TongTong
Sign in

协议书 (xié yì shū) — written agreement, contract (formal document)

Definition

A formal written agreement that is signed by the parties involved, stronger and more official than a casual 合同. Often used in legal, diplomatic, or institutional contexts.

noun
written agreementcontract (formal document)
Measure word · 份

Examples

  • 协议书。
    Shuāng fāng zài xié yì shū shàng qiān le zì.
    Both parties signed the agreement.
  • 协议书。
    Zhè fèn xié yì shū xū yào lǜ shī shěn hé.
    This agreement needs to be reviewed by a lawyer.
  • 协议书。
    Tā men huā le yí gè yuè tǎo lùn xié yì shū de nèi róng.
    They spent a month discussing the contents of the agreement.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

协议agreement
协xiéjoint议yìdiscuss
联合Coordinate
书shūdocument

“协议” gives joint discussion or agreement, and “书” gives document, so a written agreement.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 協; 协 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 協 uses 劦, meaning 'to collaborate', plus 十 for sound; the simplified 协 is a later shorthand.

Open 协 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 議; 议 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
言言yántalk
Sound part声符shēngfú
義
義yì議⁰yì
Same sound today

The traditional form 議 pairs 言 (talk) with 義 as a sound component; the simplified 议 is a later shorthand.

Open 议 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 書; 书 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
聿聿yùwriting brush
Sound part声符shēngfú
者
者zhě書shū
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 書 uses 聿, a writing brush, and 者 for its sound; the simplified 书 is a later shorthand.

Open 书 →
Appears in
Business & CommerceLaw & Justice

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.