稀泥 (xī ní) — thin mud (literal); (figurative, in 和稀泥) a compromising or fence-sitting attitude used to avoid taking a stand
Definition
Rare on its own — 稀泥 is almost always used inside the set phrase 和稀泥 ('smooth mud over'), meaning to paper over a conflict by refusing to take sides. Literally it just means thin, watery mud.
noun
thin mud (literal)(figurative, in 和稀泥) a compromising or fence-sitting attitude used to avoid taking a stand
Examples
- 稀泥，。Dì shàng yǒu xī ní, xiǎo xīn huá dǎo.There's thin mud on the ground — be careful not to slip.
- 稀泥，。Tā yù dào máo dùn jiù zhī huì huò xī ní, cóng lái bù biǎo míng lì chǎng.When faced with a conflict, he just smooths things over by not taking sides and never states his position.
- 稀泥，。Bié huò xī ní le, zhè jiàn shì bì xū shuō qīng chǔ.Stop compromising — we need to be clear about this matter.
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