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磋商 (cuō shāng) — to hold formal discussions; to consult seriously; to negotiate (in an official or diplomatic setting)

Definition

磋商 is a formal, official-context verb for serious negotiations, typically between governments or organizations. More formal than 商量 and 协商, and more diplomatic/serious than 谈判.

verb
to hold formal discussionsto consult seriouslyto negotiate (in an official or diplomatic setting)

Examples

  • 磋商。
    Liǎng guó dài biǎo jiù mào yì wèn tí jìn xíng le shēn rù cuō shāng.
    Representatives from the two countries conducted in-depth consultations on trade issues.
  • 磋商，。
    Jīng guò duō cì cuō shāng, shuāng fāng zhōng yú qiān dìng le hé zuò xié yì.
    After multiple rounds of negotiations, the two sides finally signed a cooperation agreement.
  • 磋商。
    Zhè cì de cuō shāng duì jiě jué cháng qī zhēng yì zhì guān zhòng yào.
    This round of consultations is crucial to resolving the long-standing dispute.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

磋cuōconsult
商shāngdiscuss

磋商 joins 磋 and 商, both about serious discussion.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
石石shístone
Sound part声符shēngfú
差
差chà磋cuō
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

磋 is built from 石 (stone) and 差, with 差 giving the sound.

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 商 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9HSK 2.0 Level 6

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