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变通 (biàn tōng) — (verb) to adapt flexibly, to make pragmatic adjustments

Definition

变通 means to adapt a plan or principle pragmatically to fit the situation. Unlike 务实 (focusing on practical action) or 伸缩 (flexibly adjusting scope), it specifically means bending a rule for a workable outcome.

verb
to adapt flexiblyto make pragmatic adjustments

Examples

  • 变通。
    Zhè ge fāng àn xū yào biàn tōng yí xià cái néng tōng guò.
    This plan needs a little adjustment to get approved.
  • 变通，。
    Tā zuò shì hěn dǒng de biàn tōng, suǒ yǐ zǒng néng jiě jué wèn tí.
    He knows how to be flexible in his work, so he always solves problems.
  • 变通。
    Zài tán pàn zhōng shì dàng biàn tōng yǒu shí bǐ jiān chí yuán zé gèng yǒu xiào.
    In negotiations, being appropriately flexible is sometimes more effective than sticking to one's principles.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

变biànchange
通tōngflexible

变 and 通 together convey adapting pragmatically by making a rigid course workable.

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 變; 变 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
攴攴pū
Sound part声符shēngfú
䜌
䜌䜌變biàn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 變 uses 䜌 as a sound part and 攴 as a meaning part.

Open 变 →

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

Meaning part形符xíngfú
辶Written in full as辵chuò
Sound part声符shēngfú
甬
甬yǒng通tōng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

通 pairs 辶, a part associated with movement, with 甬, which gives the sound.

Open 通 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Abstract Concepts

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