亲和 (qīn hé) — warm and approachable, affable, amiable

Definition

Describes someone whose manner (tone, attitude, presence) puts others at ease. Stresses warmth that draws people in, gentler and more inviting than just 'friendly'.

adjective
warm and approachableaffableamiable

Examples

  • 亲和，。
    Zhè wèi lǎo shī hěn qīn hé, xué shēng men dōu xǐ huan tā.
    This teacher is very warm and approachable — all the students like her.
  • 亲和，。
    Tā shuō huà de yǔ qì hěn qīn hé, ràng rén jué de hěn shū fu.
    His tone of voice is very affable, making people feel at ease.
  • 亲和，。
    Miàn shì guān de tài dù hěn qīn hé, wǒ yì diǎn dōu bù jǐn zhāng.
    The interviewer's attitude was warm and approachable — I wasn't nervous at all.

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.

亲qīnintimate
和héharmonious

亲 and 和 give parallel qualities of intimacy and harmony, hence warm and approachable.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 親; 亲 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
見見jiànsee
Sound part声符shēngfú
辛
辛xīn親qīn
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 親 uses 見 (see) for sense and 辛 (a chisel) for sound; the simplified 亲 is a shorthand and its parts are not the historical components.

Open 亲 →

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
口口kǒumouth
Sound part声符shēngfú
禾
禾hé和hé
Same sound today

和 pairs 禾, which gives the sound, with 口 (mouth), the meaning part; the reference connects this shape to harmony.

Open 和 →

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