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磨合 (mó hé) — to break in, to wear in

Definition

磨合 (móhé) literally 'grind-fit' — covers both the break-in of a new machine and the gradual adjustment between people/teams. Distinct from 磨损, which is wear-and-tear damage over time.

verb
to break into wear in

Examples

  • 磨合。
    Xīn chē xū yào mó hé yí duàn shí jiān cái néng kāi dé kuài.
    A new car needs a break-in period before it can be driven fast.
  • 磨合。
    Tā men liǎng gè rén de xìng gé hái xū yào màn màn mó hé.
    The two of them still need to gradually adjust their personalities to each other.
  • 磨合，。
    Zhè ge tuán duì jīng guò yí gè yuè de mó hé, gōng zuò biàn de gèng jiā shùn lì.
    After a month of breaking in, this team's work has become smoother.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

磨mórub
合héfit

磨 describes rubbing, and 合 gives the outcome: the parts fit together.

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shírock
Sound part声符shēngfú
靡
靡mí磨mó
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

磨 combines 石, showing rock, with 靡 for the sound.

Open 磨 →

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

合 shows 亼 and 口 arranged as two mouths speaking together.

Open 合 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9HSK 2.0 Level 6Change & Process

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