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通力合作 (tōng lì hé zuò) — to work in concert, to cooperate closely (formal, idiomatic)

Definition

A formal set phrase meaning 'to work in concert / join full forces together' — emphasizes everyone's best combined effort, not just casual cooperation.

verb
to work in concertto cooperate closely (formal, idiomatic)

Examples

  • 通力合作，。
    Shuāng fāng tōng lì hé zuò, zhōng yú wán chéng le zhè ge xiàng mù.
    The two sides worked in concert and finally completed this project.
  • 通力合作，。
    Zhǐ yǒu tōng lì hé zuò, cái néng jiě jué zhè ge fù zá de wèn tí.
    Only by working together can we solve this complex problem.
  • 通力合作，。
    Tā men tōng lì hé zuò, kè fú le chóng chóng kùn nan.
    They worked in concert and overcame many difficulties.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

通力joint strength
通tōngjoint/whole力lìstrength
偏正Modifier + head
合作cooperate
合hétogether作zuòdo/work
偏正Modifier + head

With 通 力 joined, people 合 and 作 together in one effort.

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
辶Written in full as辵chuò
Sound part声符shēngfú
甬
甬yǒng通tōng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

通 pairs 辶, a part associated with movement, with 甬, which gives the sound.

Open 通 →

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

力 is drawn as either an arm bending out from the side of the body or a wooden plough.

Open 力 →

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

合 shows 亼 and 口 arranged as two mouths speaking together.

Open 合 →

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
亻Written in full as人rénperson
Sound part声符shēngfú
乍
乍zhà作zuò
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The left side 亻 comes from 人, meaning 'person', and the right side 乍 gives the sound.

Open 作 →
Appears in
Idioms & Set Phrases

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