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相安无事 (xiāng ān wú shì) — (chengyu) to live in peace with each other; to maintain a harmonious relationship without conflict

Definition

A chengyu describing a peaceful, conflict-free coexistence between people, groups, or sides — 'no trouble between them'. Often contrasts with a prior or ongoing tension (disputes, arguments) that has now settled.

idiom
(chengyu) to live in peace with each otherto maintain a harmonious relationship without conflict

Examples

  • ，相安无事。
    Tā men suī rán shì lín jū, dàn duō nián lái yì zhí xiāng ān wú shì.
    Although they are neighbors, they have lived in peace with each other for many years.
  • ，相安无事。
    Zhǐ yào shuāng fāng hù xiāng zūn zhòng, jiù néng xiāng ān wú shì.
    As long as both sides respect each other, they can live together peacefully.
  • 相安无事，。
    Zhè jiā gōng sī nèi bù zhōng yú xiāng ān wú shì, bú zài yǒu zhēng zhí le.
    This company finally has peace within, with no more disputes.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

相安mutually peaceful
相xiāngeach other安ānpeaceful
偏正Modifier + head
无事without trouble
无wúwithout事shìtrouble
动宾Verb + object

Mutually peaceful and without trouble together describe a relationship with no conflict.

Characters in this word

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

In 相, 目 is an eye and 木 is a tree, showing an eye looking at a tree; this originally meant “to observe.”

Open 相 →

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
宀宀mián
Sound part声符shēngfú
女
女nǚ安ān
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

In 安, 宀 sits above a seated 女 on a cushion; 宀 is the meaning part, 女 is the sound part, and the character originally meant sitting at ease.

Open 安 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 無; 无 is its simplified writing.

For the simplified 无, the story is about 無. 無 drew a person dancing with ox tails held in both hands to pray for rain, then was borrowed for 'have no', so the picture does not explain that meaning.

Open 无 →

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

In 事, 又 is a hand and 中 is a flagpole with a drum; holding a flag in hand depicts performing a job.

Open 事 →
Appears in
Conflict & AgreementIdioms & Set Phrases

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