商量 (shāng liang) — to discuss, to talk over

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liánhéSide by side

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.

Open 商 →

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.

Open 量 →
Appears in
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