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求同存异 (qiú tóng-cún yì) — to seek common ground while reserving differences; to work together despite disagreements

Definition

A formal four-character idiom meaning to find shared ground while accepting remaining disagreements — used in politics, diplomacy, and serious discussion, not casual chat.

phrase
to seek common ground while reserving differencesto work together despite disagreements

Examples

  • ，求同存异，。
    Zài tán pàn zhōng, shuāng fāng dōu yīng gāi jiān chí qiú tóng-cún yì de yuán zé, zhè yàng cái néng dá chéng xié yì.
    In negotiations, both sides should adhere to the principle of seeking common ground while reserving differences, so that an agreement can be reached.
  • ，求同存异。
    Suī rán wǒ men yǒu bù tóng yì jiàn, dàn qiú tóng-cún yì de tài dù néng bāng zhù wǒ men jì xù hé zuò.
    Although we have different opinions, an attitude of seeking common ground while reserving differences can help us continue cooperating.
  • ，求同存异。
    Zài guó jì guān xì zhōng, qiú tóng-cún yì shì chǔ lǐ fēn qí de yǒu xiào fāng fǎ.
    In international relations, seeking common ground while reserving differences is an effective way to handle disagreements.

Origin

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

求 began as a drawing of a centipede.

Open 求 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

同 originally drew a pipe. It is the old form of 筒.

Open 同 →

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
子子zǐ
Sound part声符shēngfú
才
才cái存cún
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

存 pairs 子 with 才, which was used for the sound.

Open 存 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 異; 异 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 異 depicts a person with a mask 田 over the face, so the face looks different. The simplified 异 is a later shorthand.

Open 异 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9

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