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委曲求全 (wěi qū qiú quán) — to make compromises for the sake of overall harmony; to stoop to compromise in order to achieve a goal

Definition

A chengyu meaning to swallow one's grievances and compromise in order to preserve the bigger picture. Carries a tone of reluctant self-sacrifice, not just any compromise.

idiom
to make compromises for the sake of overall harmonyto stoop to compromise in order to achieve a goal

Examples

  • ，委曲求全。
    Wèi le gōng sī de cháng yuǎn fā zhǎn, tā bù dé bù wěi qū qiú quán.
    For the long-term development of the company, he had to make compromises.
  • ，委曲求全。
    Zài tán pàn zhōng, shuāng fāng dōu xū yào wěi qū qiú quán cái néng dá chéng xié yì.
    In negotiations, both sides need to make compromises to reach an agreement.
  • ，委曲求全。
    Tā xìng gé gāng zhí, bú yuàn yì wěi qū qiú quán.
    He has a straightforward personality and is unwilling to stoop to compromise.

Origin

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
女女nǚ
Sound part声符shēngfú
禾
禾hé委wěi
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

委 has 女 under 禾. 女, a woman, is the meaning part, and 禾 gives the sound.

Open 委 →

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

曲 is drawn as a bent object, matching the meaning 'bend'.

Open 曲 →

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

求 began as a drawing of a centipede.

Open 求 →

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

The shape puts 入 together with 玉 to show a whole piece of jade, so it means complete or whole.

Open 全 →
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Idioms & Set Phrases

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