妥

tuǒ

女 + 爫

HSK 3.0Level 7

Definitions

tuǒ (adjective) suitable; adequate

tuǒ (adjective) settled; properly arranged

Etymology

Depicts a hand (爫) calming a woman (女) down. The meaning later shifted to "adequate", "suitable", and "satisfactory".

About

妥 pairs 爫 (hand) and 女 (woman). Its ancient form depicts a hand calming a woman, conveying a settled, secure, or pacified state. This core idea of safety later broadened to describe situations, actions, or decisions that are appropriate, suitable, or satisfactory. Today, 妥 functions as an adjective indicating that something has been handled adequately and thoughtfully, emphasizing careful resolution rather than the earlier physical imagery.

Etymology Hide

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Bronze Late Shang dynasty (~1100 BC)

Bronze Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

这个办法很妥当。

Zhège bànfǎ hěn tuǒdàng.

This method is very proper.

他们最终达成了妥协。

Tāmen zuìzhōng dáchéng le tuǒxié.

They finally reached a compromise.

请妥善保管这些文件。

Qǐng tuǒshàn bǎoguǎn zhèxiē wénjiàn.

Please properly keep these documents.

他把事情处理得很妥帖。

Tā bǎ shìqíng chǔlǐ dé hěn tuǒtiē.

He handled the matter very appropriately.

我已经办妥了所有手续。

Wǒ yǐjīng bàntuǒ le suǒyǒu shǒuxù.

I have already completed all the procedures.

我们谈妥了合作的条件。

Wǒmen tántuǒ le hézuò de tiáojiàn.

We have negotiated the terms of cooperation.

这是一个稳妥的投资计划。

Zhè shì yīgè wěntuǒ de tóuzī jìhuà.

This is a safe investment plan.

经过多次讨论，方案才得以妥当地确定下来。

Jīngguò duōcì tǎolùn, fāng'àn cái déyǐ tuǒdàng de quèdìng xiàlái.

After several discussions, the plan was properly finalized.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 女

Component: 爫

妥