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协调 (xié tiáo) — (verb) to coordinate; to harmonize; (adjective) harmonious; well-coordinated

Definition

协调 (xiétiáo) is both a verb 'to coordinate / harmonize' and an adjective 'harmonious, well-coordinated' — focuses on making different parts work together as a whole, often people, departments, or arrangements.

verb
to coordinateto harmonize
adjective
harmoniouswell-coordinated

Examples

  • 协调。
    Tā fù zé xié tiáo gè bù mén zhī jiān de hé zuò.
    He is responsible for coordinating cooperation between departments.
  • 协调。
    Wǒ men xū yào xié tiáo yí xià shí jiān hé dì diǎn.
    We need to coordinate the time and place.
  • 协调。
    Zhè fú huà de yán sè dā pèi fēi cháng xié tiáo.
    The color combination of this painting is very harmonious.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

协xiéharmonize
调tiáoadjust

The harmonizing sense in 协 and the adjusting sense in 调 together give the idea of fitting things well.

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 調; 调 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
言言yán
Sound part声符shēngfú
周
周zhōu調tiáo
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 調 pairs 言 (speech) with 周, which shows how it was pronounced. The simplified 调 is a later shorthand.

Open 调 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 6HSK 2.0 Level 5Management

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