中西合璧
zhōng xī hé bì
a blend of Chinese and Western; the best of East and West
Character by character
中zhōng
China
China
西xī
West
West
合hé
join
join
璧bì
jade disc
jade disc
Example
她的婚礼中西合璧：上午穿白色婚纱，晚上换上了红色的旗袍。
Her wedding was half Chinese, half Western: a white wedding dress in the morning and a red qipao in the evening.
Tone: positive (praise).
Usage and origin
合璧 is putting the two halves of a jade disc back together, two different things joined into a fine whole. Said of buildings, food, weddings and music.
Learn this in Lesson 22 · HSK 5: 冰城哈尔滨 (Harbin, the city of ice)
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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