Definition
中和 has two very different core meanings. In chemistry, it means 'to neutralize' — the reaction of an acid and a base to form a salt and water, where 中和 is a transitive verb (把酸性溶液中和). In philosophy, it is a key Confucian concept from the Doctrine of the Mean (中庸), meaning 'central harmony' — the ideal state of balance and harmony in one’s emotions and in society. This cultural sense is often used as a noun or adjective (中和之道 'the way of central harmony'), but the verb form can mean 'to bring into balance or harmony'.
v.
(chemistry) to neutralize (an acid/base)(philosophy) to bring into harmonycentral harmony (from Confucian thought)
Examples
- 中和。Shíyàn shì lǐ xūyào bǎ zhè liǎng zhǒng yètǐ zhōng hé yíxià.In the lab, we need to neutralize these two liquids.
- ，。Rújiā jiǎngjiu xǐ nù āi lè zhī wèi fā wèi zhī zhōng, fā ér jiē zhòng jié wèi zhī hé.Confucianism teaches that when joy, anger, sorrow, and pleasure have not yet arisen, it is called 'central'; when they arise and all hit the proper measure, it is called 'harmony'.
- ，中和。Zhè wèi lǎoshī xìnggé pínghé, dài rén chǔ wù dōu néng zhōng hé shìdù.This teacher has a calm disposition and handles people and things with proper balance and moderation.
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