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折中 (zhé zhōng) — to compromise (by taking a middle road)

Definition

A verb meaning to compromise or split the difference between two positions. Often used as 折中方案 (a compromise plan) — more formal and idea-focused than the more action-oriented 让步 (to concede a point).

verb
to compromise (by taking a middle road)

Examples

  • 折中。
    Wǒ men xū yào zhé zhōng yí xià.
    We need to compromise a bit.
  • 折中。
    Tā men tí chū le yí gè zhé zhōng fāng àn.
    They proposed a compromise plan.
  • ，。
    Shuāng fāng dōu bú yuàn yì ràng bù, nà wǒ men zhé gè zhōng ba.
    Neither side is willing to concede, so let's meet halfway.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

折zhébend/adjust
中zhōngmiddle

折 suggests bending or adjusting, and 中 is the middle, so 折中 means taking a middle course.

Characters in this word

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

  • 屮𣏄𣏄a tree {{zh-m|*木}} cut in half
  • 斤斤jīnaxe

The shape originally showed an axe (斤) cutting a tree in half; in 折 the left part is now written as a hand.

Open 折 →

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

The original picture showed a flagpole with a drum in the middle, set up in the center of a field.

Open 中 →
Appears in
Conflict & Agreement

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