从权 (cóng quán) — (adverb) as a matter of expediency, according to what is practical

Definition

Formal/literary adverb meaning 'to act expediently' — bend the rules when the situation demands it, usually as a temporary exception. Almost always used in writing (reports, official statements), not everyday speech.

adverb
as a matter of expediencyaccording to what is practical

Examples

  • ，从权。
    Zài tè shū qíng kuàng xià, wǒ men kě yǐ cóng quán chǔ lǐ.
    In special circumstances, we can handle it as a matter of expediency.
  • 从权，。
    Tā jué dìng cóng quán xíng shì, zàn shí fàng qì yuán zé.
    He decided to act according to expediency and temporarily set aside principles.
  • ，从权。
    Zhè cì tán pàn, wǒ men bù dé bù cóng quán.
    During this negotiation, we had no choice but to act expediently.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

从cóngfollow
权quánexpediency

从 follow and 权 expediency combine as acting according to what is practical.

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 從; 从 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
辵辵chuòwalk
Sound part声符shēngfú
从
从cóng從cóng
Same sound today

The traditional form 從 pairs 辵 (walk) with 从, which gives the sound; the character was originally written 从.

Open 从 →

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 權; 权 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
木木mùtree
Sound part声符shēngfú
雚
雚guàn權quán
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 權 shows 木, a tree, with 雚 giving the sound; it named a kind of tree and was used for a standard weight. The simplified 权 is a later shorthand, not the historical shape.

Open 权 →

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