商量 (shāng liang) — to discuss, to talk over | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

商量 is an everyday verb for two or more people discussing something to reach a decision (plans, times, issues). 讨论 is more formal and broader, often for organized group discussion.

verb

to discussto talk over

Examples

商量。
Wǒ men míng tiān shāng liang yí xià zhè ge wèn tí.
Let's talk over this issue tomorrow.
商量？
Nǐ men shāng liang hǎo shí jiān le ma?
Have you discussed and set the time?
商量。
Tā zhèng zài hé péng you shāng liang lǚ xíng jì huà.
He is discussing travel plans with a friend.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

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

商shāngconsult

量liángconsider

商 (consult) and 量 (consider) together mean talking things over.

Characters in this word

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

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

日日rìsun
東東dōngbag; east

量 has 日 (sun) over 東 (bag; east). Some explanations suggest measuring under the sun or the sun rising in the east, but the exact origin is unclear.

Appears in

HSK 3.0 Level 4 HSK 2.0 Level 4 Communication & Speech 3000 Most Frequent Chinese Words 5000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

Browse more HSK 4 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.