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圆滑 (yuán huá) — tactful, diplomatic, smooth (in dealing with people; often with a slightly negative sense of being overly slick)

Definition

Implies skillful smoothness in handling people, but with a negative edge — seen as slick or not sincere. Weaker/less formal than 圆通, and more pejorative than 老练 (which is neutral-experienced).

adjective
tactfuldiplomaticsmooth (in dealing with people; often with a slightly negative sense of being overly slick)

Examples

  • ，圆滑。
    Zài zhè ge háng yè, zuò shì yuán huá yì diǎn huì gèng róng yì chéng gōng.
    In this industry, being a bit diplomatic makes it easier to succeed.
  • 圆滑，。
    Tā suī rán shuō huà hěn yuán huá, dàn dà jiā dōu jué de tā bú gòu zhēn chéng.
    Although he speaks very tactfully, everyone feels he is not sincere enough.
  • 圆滑。
    Tā de yuán huá zuò fēng ràng tā zài gōng sī lǐ hěn shòu huān yíng.
    His smooth style makes him very popular in the company.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

圆yuánround
滑huáslippery

"圆" (round) and "滑" (slippery) together suggest smoothness in dealings.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 圓; 圆 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
囗囗wéi
Sound part声符shēngfú
員
員yuán圓yuán
Same sound today

This is about the traditional form 圓, not the simplified 圆. In 圓, 囗 surrounds 員, and the inner part of 員 is an old circle picture.

Open 圆 →

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
水水shuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
骨
骨gǔ滑huá
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

滑 pairs 水 (water) with 骨, which gives the sound.

Open 滑 →
Appears in
Personality & Traits

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