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切磋 (qiē cuō) — to exchange ideas or skills for mutual improvement; to discuss and learn from one another

Definition

切磋 focuses on peers learning from each other to improve skills (sports, academics, crafts). It is more collegial and skill-oriented than 研讨 (formal deliberation) and 磋商 (official negotiation).

verb
to exchange ideas or skills for mutual improvementto discuss and learn from one another

Examples

  • 切磋。
    Tā men jīng cháng yì qǐ qiē cuō lán qiú jì qiǎo.
    They often get together to exchange basketball techniques.
  • 切磋，。
    Tōng guò zhè cì qiē cuō, dà jiā shōu huò le hěn duō.
    Through this exchange, everyone gained a lot.
  • 切磋。
    Liǎng wèi jiào shòu zài huì yì shàng qiē cuō xué shù guān diǎn.
    The two professors exchanged academic viewpoints at the conference.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

切qiècut
磋cuōfile

切 and 磋 refer to cutting and filing, together suggesting mutual polishing of ideas.

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
刀刀dāoknife
Sound part声符shēngfú
七
七qī切qiè
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

In 切, the 刀 (knife) part is joined to 七, which gives the sound.

Open 切 →

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
石石shístone
Sound part声符shēngfú
差
差chà磋cuō
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

磋 is built from 石 (stone) and 差, with 差 giving the sound.

Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Communication & Speech

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