君子和而不同

jūnzǐ hé ér bù tóng

quotation

Meanings

1 the gentleman is harmonious but does not conform
2 a person of character seeks harmony without blindly agreeing (literally: harmonizes yet is not the same)

Characters

君

jūn

gentleman, noble person

Examples

HSK 7-9

真正的朋友君子和而不同，能坦诚地表达不同意见。

Zhēnzhèng de péngyou jūnzǐ hé ér bù tóng, néng tǎnchéng de biǎodá bùtóng yìjiàn.

Real friends follow 'harmonious but not the same' - they can express different views honestly.

HSK 7-9

国与国之间也应该君子和而不同。

Guó yǔ guó zhījiān yě yīnggāi jūnzǐ hé ér bù tóng.

Nations too should practice 'harmony without uniformity.'

Tips

history

From the Analects 《论语·子路》: 君子和而不同，小人同而不和 (The gentleman harmonises without conforming; the petty man conforms without harmony.) Chinese diplomacy frequently invokes the phrase to describe its cultural and international ethic.

usage

和 = harmonious relations while keeping distinct views; 同 = sameness/conformity. Modern usage almost always cites it as a diplomatic or interpersonal principle.

Stroke Order

君 jūn

子 zǐ

和 hé

而 ér

不 bù

同 tóng