和易 (hé yì) — amiable and unassuming; gentle and approachable (of character)

Definition

Describes a person whose gentle, easy manner makes others feel comfortable around them. Used in writing about someone's character, not everyday speech.

verb
amiable and unassuminggentle and approachable (of character)
Easily confused

Examples

  • 和易，。
    Zhè wèi lǎo shī wèi rén hé yì, xué shēng men dōu hěn xǐ huan tā.
    This teacher is amiable and approachable, and all the students like him very much.
  • 和易，。
    Tā dài rén hé yì, suǒ yǐ péng you tè bié duō.
    He treats people with gentle kindness, so he has many friends.
  • 和易，。
    Néng yù dào zhè me hé yì de lǐng dǎo, zhēn shì wǒ de fú qi.
    Meeting such a gentle and approachable leader is truly my good fortune.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

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

和héamiable
易yìeasy

和 gives a gentle warmth and 易 an easy manner; together they describe an amiable, unassuming character.

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 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The early form of 易 was a drawing of a filled container, not a chameleon. It showed something full that could be given out.

Open 易 →

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