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和平共处 (hé píng gòng chǔ) — (phrase) peaceful coexistence (especially between nations or groups)

Definition

A formal phrase meaning 'peaceful coexistence' — chiefly used for nations, political groups, or religious communities living together without conflict.

phrase
peaceful coexistence (especially between nations or groups)

Examples

  • 和平共处。
    Liǎng guó lǐng dǎo rén yí zhì tóng yì jiān chí hé píng gòng chǔ.
    The leaders of the two countries agreed unanimously to uphold peaceful coexistence.
  • 和平共处，。
    Bù tóng zōng jiào xìn yǎng de qún tǐ yīng dāng hé píng gòng chǔ, hù xiāng zūn zhòng.
    Groups of different religious beliefs should coexist peacefully and respect each other.
  • 和平共处。
    Zhǐ yǒu hé píng gòng chǔ cái néng cù jìn dì qū de cháng qī wěn dìng.
    Only peaceful coexistence can promote long-term stability in the region.

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.

和平peace
和hépeace平píngpeace
联合Coordinate
共处live together
共gòngtogether处chùlive
偏正Modifier + head

和平 gives peace and 共处 means living together, naming peaceful coexistence.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
口口kǒumouth
Sound part声符shēngfú
禾
禾hé和hé
Same sound today

和 pairs 禾, which gives the sound, with 口 (mouth), the meaning part; the reference connects this shape to harmony.

Open 和 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

The origin is uncertain. One explanation combines 八 (division) and 亏 (exhaled air) to show smooth speech.

Open 平 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

  • 廾廾gǒngtwo hands
  • 口口kǒuan object

共 shows 廾, two hands, holding up an object. That object was written 口 and later became the 廿-like top.

Open 共 →

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 處; 处 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
夂夂zhǐ
几几jǐtable
Sound part声符shēngfú
虍
虍hū處chǔ
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 處 pairs 虍, giving the sound, with 夂 and 几, a table, as meaning parts. The simplified 处 is a shorthand and its parts are not the historical components.

Open 处 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9International & DiplomacyIdioms & Set Phrases

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