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相容 (xiāng róng) — to be compatible with; to be consistent with

Definition

Highlights that two things (systems, views, actions) can coexist or agree without contradiction. 比 "一致" is more technical/scientific; 比 "相符" emphasizes matching, while 相容 stresses not conflicting.

verb
to be compatible withto be consistent with

Examples

  • 相容。
    Zhè ge ruǎn jiàn yǔ xīn xiāng róng.
    This software is compatible with the new system.
  • 相容。
    Tā men de guān diǎn wán quán xiāng róng.
    Their viewpoints are completely consistent.
  • 相容。
    Tā de yán xíng bù xiāng róng.
    His words and actions are inconsistent.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

相xiāngmutually
容róngtolerate

相容 uses 相 'mutually' and 容 'tolerate' to mean things can coexist or work together.

Characters in this word

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

In 相, 目 is an eye and 木 is a tree, showing an eye looking at a tree; this originally meant “to observe.”

Open 相 →

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
宀宀mián
Sound part声符shēngfú
公
公gōng容róng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

In 容, the 宀 (roof) part points to holding or containing, and 公 gives the sound.

Open 容 →
Appears in
Abstract Concepts

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