和事老 (hé shì lǎo) — mediator who settles disputes by compromising principles (often derogatory)

Definition

A 和事老 is a peacemaker who settles disputes by smoothing things over rather than taking a side — usually a mild criticism (unlike a neutral 调解人/mediator, who is seen as fair).

noun
mediator who settles disputes by compromising principles (often derogatory)

Examples

  • 和事老，。
    Tā zǒng xǐ huan dāng hé shì lǎo, liǎng biān dōu bù dé zuì.
    He always likes to play the mediator, offending neither side.
  • ，和事老，。
    Zài zhè ge wèn tí shàng, tā zhǐ shì yí gè hé shì lǎo, méi yǒu jiān chí yuán zé.
    On this issue, he is just a peacemaker who didn't stick to principles.
  • 和事老，。
    Bié zài zuò hé shì lǎo le, yǒu xiē máo dùn bì xū shuō qīng chǔ.
    Stop being a mediator — some conflicts need to be clarified.

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.

和事settle affairs
和hésettle事shìaffairs
动宾Verb + object
老lǎoperson

和事老 combines 和事 (settle disputes) and 老 (person): one who smooths over disputes.

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
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 →

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

In 事, 又 is a hand and 中 is a flagpole with a drum; holding a flag in hand depicts performing a job.

Open 事 →

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

The shape 老 combines 人 (man), 毛 (hair), and 匕 (cane), showing a man with long hair leaning on a cane.

Open 老 →

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