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妥协 (tuǒ xié) — to compromise, to make concessions to reach an agreement

Definition

A verb meaning to give up part of what you want so both sides can agree — usually under pressure, with a sense of yielding. 调和 is more about restoring harmony or mixing things, while 和解 is reaching peace after a conflict.

verb
to compromise, to make concessions to reach an agreement

Examples

  • 妥协？
    Shuāng fāng dōu yuàn yì tuǒ xié ma?
    Are both sides willing to compromise?
  • 妥协。
    Tā men zài zhè ge wèn tí shàng jué bù tuǒ xié.
    They will never compromise on this issue.
  • ，妥协。
    Yǒu shí hou wèi le hé píng, wǒ men bì xū tuǒ xié.
    Sometimes for peace, we must compromise.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

妥tuǒproper
协xiéharmonize

妥协 combines 妥 (proper) and 协 (harmonize), both pointing to reaching agreement.

Characters in this word

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

妥 combines 爪 (hand) and 女 (woman), as a hand comforting or placating a woman.

Open 妥 →

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 協; 协 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 協 uses 劦, meaning 'to collaborate', plus 十 for sound; the simplified 协 is a later shorthand.

Open 协 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9HSK 2.0 Level 6Conflict & Agreement

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