ZHIZHI 知止 · LEARN CHINESE DAILY
合
to combine; to fit
hé
6 strokes · 人 (gathering lid) over 口 (mouth/opening) · HSK 3
Where 合 comes from
A lid closing perfectly over a vessel's mouth — two halves meeting. From 'fit together' came combine, cooperate, and the satisfying click of things that match.
合 in Chinese culture
合作 cooperate, 适合 suit, 合适 suitable, 联合 unite. A business 合同 (contract) is literally 'fitting together the same' — two parties closing like lid and jar.
Example
合作 hézuò — to cooperate
我们合作得很好。
Wǒmen hézuò de hěn hǎo.
We cooperate very well.
How to remember it
A LID meets its JAR — a perfect FIT, things COMBINED.
合 is also a unit: traditional Chinese medicine still measures some doses in 合 gě, one-tenth of a litre.
Same sound, different tones
Words unlocked by 合
合作 hézuò
to cooperate
适合 shìhé
to suit
Related characters
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