委曲求全

wěiqūqiúquán

idiom #29,376

Meanings

1 to accept a compromise
2 to endure humiliation for the sake of the greater good
3 to swallow one's pride to keep the peace

Characters

to entrust; to yield; to submit

bent; crooked; wrong; unjust

to seek; to request; to pursue

complete; whole; to preserve intact

Examples

为了保住合同，他只好委曲求全。

Wèile bǎozhù hétong, tā zhǐhǎo wěiqūqiúquán.

To preserve the contract, he had no choice but to accept a compromise.

她不愿意委曲求全，坚持了自己的立场。

Tā bù yuànyì wěiqūqiúquán, jiānchí le zìjǐ de lìchǎng.

She was unwilling to capitulate and stood her ground.

Tips

usage

委曲求全 implies yielding out of necessity — accepting an unfair situation to preserve something more important. It carries a nuance of dignity sacrificed for a larger goal. Contrast with 妥协 (compromise), which is more neutral.

Stroke Order

委 wěi

曲 qǔ

求 qiú

全 quán