和平共处
hé píng gòng chǔ
to coexist peacefully; peaceful coexistence
Character by character
和hé
harmony
harmony
平píng
peace
peace
共gòng
together
together
处chǔ
live
live
Example
我家的猫和狗和平共处，冬天还挤在一起睡觉。
Our cat and dog live together in peace and even curl up together to sleep in winter.
Tone: positive (praise).
Usage and origin
Lesson 5-6 met it among Beijing’s set phrases on China–US relations. It is the last of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence (和平共处五项原则) of 1953–54, still quoted constantly in Chinese diplomacy. In everyday speech it is half joking: rivals, flatmates or pets that manage not to fight. 处 is chǔ, “to get along”.
Learn this in Lesson 126 · HSK 7–9: 北京握手 (International news: the handshake in Beijing)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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