📖 Meaning
To seek common ground while reserving differences. It advocates finding shared interests or agreements while tolerating divergent opinions. This approach is widely used in negotiation, diplomacy, and interpersonal cooperation.
📜 Origin Story
This idiom has no specific classical origin story and emerged as a modern political and diplomatic phrase popularized in the mid-20th century. It reflects a pragmatic approach to negotiation and cooperation between people, organizations, or nations. The concept emphasizes mutual respect and tolerance, encouraging parties to focus on areas of agreement rather than dwelling on disagreements. It became particularly prominent in Chinese diplomatic discourse during the Bandung Conference era of the 1950s.
💡 Example Usage
在这个问题上，我们还是求同存异吧。
On this issue, let's just seek common ground while reserving our differences.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 求同存异
- Pinyin: qiú tóng cún yì
- Literal Translation: seek, same, keep, different
- Category: Communication
- Characters: 4