Definitions

còu (verb) to gather together; to collect
còu (verb) to move close to
còu (verb) to happen by chance

Etymology phono-semantic

ice

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character "凑", with its traditional form "湊", is structured from the water radical "氵" combined with the component "奏", etymologically indicating the convergence or gathering of waters. This origin informs its early meaning of liquids flowing together, which gradually expanded to encompass general assembly or collection. In modern usage, the character often implies improvised or makeshift gathering, as in terms like "凑合". The simplified form "凑" replaces the water radical with "冫", a graphical reduction that maintains the phonetic element "奏" while altering the visual connection to its aquatic roots.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我们钱买礼物。

Wǒmen còu qián mǎi lǐwù.

We pool money to buy a gift.

过来听故事。

Tā còu guòlai tīng gùshi.

He moved closer to listen to the story.

今天巧遇见你。

Jīntiān còuqiǎo yùjiàn nǐ.

Today I happened to meet you by chance.

我们合着用吧。

Wǒmen còuhe zhe yòng ba.

Let's make do with it.

大家在一起讨论问题。

Dàjiā còu zài yīqǐ tǎolùn wèntí.

Everyone gathered together to discuss the problem.

为了足人数,他邀请了更多朋友。

Wèile còu zú rénshù, tā yāoqǐng le gèng duō péngyou.

In order to gather enough people, he invited more friends.

虽然时间很紧,但我们还是出了方案。

Suīrán shíjiān hěn jǐn, dàn wǒmen háishì còu chū le fāng'àn.

Although time was tight, we still managed to put together a plan.

在资金不足的情况下,他们东拼西才完成了项目。

Zài zījīn bùzú de qíngkuàng xià, tāmen dōng pīn xī còu cái wánchéng le xiàngmù.

Under the circumstance of insufficient funds, they completed the project by scraping together resources from everywhere.