斡旋 (wò xuán) — to mediate; to use one's good offices (in formal, diplomatic, or high-level conflicts)

Definition

斡旋 means 'to mediate' at a high, formal level — typically between states, institutions, or other powerful parties — using personal influence or authority to broker a resolution. It is more formal and elevated than everyday words like 调解.

verb
to mediateto use one's good offices (in formal, diplomatic, or high-level conflicts)

Examples

  • 斡旋，。
    Lián hé guó mì shū zhǎng qīn zì wò xuán, cù chéng le tíng huǒ xié yì.
    The UN Secretary-General personally mediated, facilitating a ceasefire agreement.
  • ，斡旋。
    Tā zuò wéi zhōng jiān rén, zài liǎng guó zhī jiān jī jí wò xuán.
    Acting as an intermediary, he actively mediated between the two countries.
  • 斡旋，。
    Jīng guò duō lún wò xuán, shuāng fāng zhōng yú tóng yì tán pàn.
    After several rounds of mediation, both sides finally agreed to negotiate.

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.

斡wòturn
旋xuánturn

斡 and 旋 both convey turning or maneuvering, together suggesting mediating between sides.

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
斗斗dòu
Sound part声符shēngfú
倝
倝gàn斡wò
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

斡 is made from 斗, a meaning part, and 倝, a sound part.

Open 斡 →

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

  • 㫃㫃㫃flag
  • 止止zhǐfoot
  • 〇〇língcircle

旋 combines 㫃 (a flag), 止 (a foot), and 〇 (a circle), and 〇 also gave the sound.

Open 旋 →

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