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对付 (duì fu) — to deal with, to handle (a problem, task, or difficult person); to make do, to get by (with limited resources or less-than-ideal conditions); (dialect) to get along with (someone); often used in the negative

Definition

对付 covers 'deal with' broadly — from solving problems to getting by with what's available. 应付 is more about coping under pressure, 凑合 is specifically making do with something inadequate.

verb
to deal withto handle (a problem, task, or difficult person)to make doto get by (with limited resources or less-than-ideal conditions)(dialect) to get along with (someone)often used in the negative

Examples

  • 对付。
    Zhè ge rèn wu tài nán duì fu le.
    This task is too difficult to handle.
  • ，对付。
    Suī rán gōng zī bù gāo, dàn hái duì fu zhe guò ba.
    Although the salary is low, I'll make do and get by.
  • 对付，。
    Tā zhè ge rén hěn nán duì fu, nǐ bié dé zuì tā.
    He's a tough person to get along with; you'd better not offend him.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

对duìrespond
付fùhandle

「对」 and 「付」 both carry the idea of responding or handling, so together they mean to deal with or make do.

Characters in this word

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 對; 对 is its simplified writing.

For the traditional form 對, the shape comes from an early drawing of 丵 (a digging tool), 土 (earth), and 又 (a hand); it may have meant developing land.

Open 对 →

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

付 pairs 亻 (person) with 又 (hand), showing a person handing something to someone.

Open 付 →
Appears in
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