妥当 (tuǒ dàng) — appropriate; proper; well-arranged | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

妥当 means 'well-handled, properly arranged' — focuses on whether a plan, arrangement, or situation has been set up correctly. Slightly more colloquial than 妥善; contrast with 恰当 ('well-chosen' for words/methods) and 正确 ('right' as a matter of fact).

adjective

appropriateproperwell-arranged

Examples

妥当，。
Zhè ge fāng àn hěn tuǒ dàng, wǒ tóng yì.
This plan is very appropriate; I agree.
妥当？
Nǐ bǎ xíng li shōu shi tuǒ dàng le ma?
Have you packed your luggage properly?
妥当，。
Shì qing yǐ jīng ān pái tuǒ dàng le, nǐ fàng xīn.
Everything has been arranged properly, don't worry.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

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

当dāngappropriate

妥当 joins 妥 (proper) and 当 (appropriate), both conveying suitability.

Characters in this word

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

爪爪zhuǎhand
女女nǚwoman

妥 combines 爪 (hand) and 女 (woman), as a hand comforting or placating a woman.

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 當; 当 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

田田tiánfield

Sound part声符shēngfú

尚

尚shàng當dāng

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 當 combines 田 (field) with 尚; the evidence describes fields facing each other.

Appears in

HSK 3.0 Level 7-9 HSK 2.0 Level 6 Good & Bad

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