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权宜之计 (quán yí zhī jì) — expedient measure; stopgap solution; makeshift arrangement

Definition

A temporary, pragmatic solution chosen for the situation at hand, not a long-term fix — 'a stopgap measure' in formal writing.

noun
expedient measurestopgap solutionmakeshift arrangement

Examples

  • 权宜之计，。
    Zhè zhǐ shì yí gè quán yí zhī jì, bú shì cháng jiǔ zhī jì.
    This is just a stopgap measure, not a long-term solution.
  • 权宜之计。
    Gōng sī yòng cái yuán zuò wéi quán yí zhī jì lái yìng duì cái wù wēi jī.
    The company used layoffs as a stopgap measure to deal with the financial crisis.
  • 权宜之计。
    Zhèng fǔ tuī xíng le zhè xiàng quán yí zhī jì yǐ huǎn jiě jiāo tōng yā lì.
    The government implemented this expedient measure to relieve traffic pressure.

Origin

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 權; 权 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
木木mùtree
Sound part声符shēngfú
雚
雚guàn權quán
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 權 shows 木, a tree, with 雚 giving the sound; it named a kind of tree and was used for a standard weight. The simplified 权 is a later shorthand, not the historical shape.

Open 权 →

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

宜 shows 且, a sacrificial altar, with 多, two pieces of meat, depicting two pieces of meat placed on the altar.

Open 宜 →

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

The shape pairs 止, a foot, with 一, a beginning place, and means to go.

Open 之 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 計; 计 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 計 pairs 言 (say) with 十 (all). The simplified 计 is a later shorthand, so its parts are not the historical shape.

Open 计 →
Appears in
Abstract ConceptsIdioms & Set Phrases

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