求同存异

求同存異

qiútóngcúnyì

idiom #47,467

Meanings

1 to seek common ground while preserving differences (idiom)
2 to put aside differences and cooperate
3 finding shared agreement despite disagreements

Characters

to keep; to preserve

Examples

我们应该求同存异，共同合作。

Wǒmen yīnggāi qiútóngcúnyì, gòngtóng hézuò.

We should seek common ground while respecting differences, and cooperate.

在外交上，求同存异是一项重要原则。

Zài wàijiāo shàng, qiútóngcúnyì shì yī xiàng zhòngyào yuánzé.

In diplomacy, seeking common ground while preserving differences is an important principle.

谈判双方都愿意求同存异。

Tánpàn shuāngfāng dōu yuànyì qiútóngcúnyì.

Both sides in the negotiation were willing to seek common ground while accepting differences.

Tips

culture

Made famous by Zhou Enlai at the 1955 Bandung Conference as a guiding principle of Chinese diplomacy. The phrase is now standard in discussions of Chinese foreign policy and international negotiation.

grammar

Two parallel verb-object pairs: 求同 (seek sameness) + 存异 (preserve differences). The ABCD pattern where A+C and B+D are semantically opposite is common in chengyu.

Stroke Order

求 qiú

同 tóng

存 cún

异 yì