Definition
私了 means to settle a dispute or legal matter privately, without involving the court system. It's commonly used in traffic accidents, workplace conflicts, or civil disagreements where both parties agree to a private resolution. The opposite is 公了 (gōng le, public/official settlement). Note: the standard pronunciation is sī liǎo, though the source pinyin shows sī le.
v.
to settle privately (out of court, without legal involvement)
Examples
- 私了。Zhè jiàn shì wǒmen sī le ba.Let's settle this matter privately.
- 私了，。Tāmen xuǎnzé le sī le, méiyǒu qù fǎyuàn.They chose to settle privately and didn't go to court.
- 私了，。Jiāotōng shìgù kěyǐ sī le, dàn yào zhùyì qiān xiéyì.Traffic accidents can be settled privately, but be sure to sign an agreement.
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