About
The word 让步 (ràngbù) is a compound formed through a metaphorical combination of two characters: 让 (ràng), meaning "to yield" or "to concede", and 步 (bù), meaning "step". Literally, it paints the image of "yielding a step" or "stepping back". This concrete action is extended metaphorically to represent the abstract concept of making a concession or compromise during a dispute or negotiation, implying a voluntary retreat from one's original position to facilitate agreement or reduce conflict. Thus, its formation exemplifies how Chinese often creates abstract vocabulary by combining simpler, concrete characters into an idiomatic figurative expression.