私了

sīliǎo

verb #21,369

Meanings

1 to settle privately
2 to resolve out of court
3 to handle something behind closed doors

Characters

private / personal

to settle / to resolve / to finish

Examples

双方决定私了，不打官司。

Shuāngfāng juédìng sīliǎo, bù dǎ guānsī.

Both parties decided to settle privately and not go to court.

这件事不能私了，必须报警。

Zhè jiàn shì bù néng sīliǎo, bìxū bàojǐng.

This matter cannot be handled privately — the police must be notified.

Tips

usage

私了 is common in disputes over car accidents, minor injuries, or business disagreements where both parties want to avoid official legal proceedings. It often involves a private financial settlement.

Stroke Order

私 sī

了 le