和和气气 (hé hé qì qì) — polite and friendly, amiable and harmonious (of a person's manner or atmosphere)

Definition

Reduplication of 和气 meaning 'polite and harmonious' — used for a person's gentle manner or a relationship's atmosphere. Adds a warm, easygoing feel; functions as an adverb before the verb (和和气气地).

bound form
polite and friendlyamiable and harmonious (of a person's manner or atmosphere)

Examples

  • 和和气气，。
    Tā duì měi gè rén dōu hé hé qì qì de, dà jiā dōu hěn xǐ huan tā.
    He is polite and friendly to everyone, so everyone likes him.
  • 和和气气，。
    Tā men yì jiā rén xiāng chǔ dé hé hé qì qì, cóng bù chǎo jià.
    Their family gets along harmoniously and never quarrels.
  • 和和气气，。
    Tā hé hé qì qì dì gēn kè rén shuō huà, ràng rén gǎn jué hěn shū fu.
    She spoke to the guests politely and friendly, making people feel very comfortable.

Origin

Reduplicated word
构词法gòucífǎ
重叠chóngdiéReduplication

A syllable said twice — for affection, for softness, or simply because that is how the word is said.

和和harmony
和héharmony和héharmony
气气manner
气qìmanner气qìmanner

The repeated 和 and 气 give a polite, friendly, amiable manner.

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 →

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 →

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 氣; 气 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
米米mǐrice
Sound part声符shēngfú
气
气qì氣qì
Same sound today

The traditional form 氣 pairs 米 (rice) with 气, which supplies the sound; the simplified 气 is a later abbreviation.

Open 气 →

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 氣; 气 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
米米mǐrice
Sound part声符shēngfú
气
气qì氣qì
Same sound today

The traditional form 氣 pairs 米 (rice) with 气, which supplies the sound; the simplified 气 is a later abbreviation.

Open 气 →

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