jiǎnghé: 讲和 - To Make Peace, To Settle a Dispute, To Reconcile

• Keywords: jianghe, jiang he, 讲和, make peace in Chinese, reconcile in Chinese, settle a dispute, stop fighting, come to an agreement, Chinese vocabulary, Chinese culture, harmony
• Summary: Learn the essential Chinese verb 讲和 (jiǎnghé), which means “to make peace” or “reconcile.” This page explores how to use 讲和 in everyday arguments, business negotiations, and even international relations. Discover its deep connection to the Chinese cultural value of harmony (和), see practical example sentences, and learn to distinguish it from similar words like 和平 (hépíng) to avoid common mistakes.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): jiǎnghé
• Part of Speech: Verb (Separable Verb)
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: To stop a conflict and come to a peaceful agreement.
• In a Nutshell: 讲和 (jiǎnghé) is the active process of ending a fight or disagreement. It's not just about the fighting stopping; it's about the parties involved actively using words—讲 (jiǎng) means “to speak”—to restore a state of peace or harmony—和 (hé). Think of it as “talking it out to achieve peace.”

• 讲 (jiǎng): To speak, to say, to explain, to discuss. The left-side radical 讠(yán) is the “speech” radical, indicating the character is related to words and communication.
• 和 (hé): Harmony, peace, calm; also used to mean “and” or “with”. This character is central to many Chinese cultural concepts.
• The characters combine quite literally to mean “to speak harmony” or “to discuss peace.” This beautifully captures the essence of the word: achieving a state of peace through communication and discussion, rather than by force or by simply ignoring the problem.

讲和 (jiǎnghé) is more than just a word; it's a reflection of the profound importance of harmony (和谐, héxié) in Chinese culture. In many Western cultures, especially American culture, winning an argument or asserting one's individual correctness can be seen as a sign of strength. The goal is often resolution through debate, where one side is proven right. In contrast, traditional Chinese culture often prioritizes the preservation of group harmony and the maintenance of good relationships. Overt conflict is seen as disruptive and undesirable. Therefore, the ability to 讲和—to set aside differences and find a peaceful way forward—is highly valued. It is not necessarily a sign of weakness or “giving in,” but rather a demonstration of wisdom, maturity, and a commitment to the collective good over individual ego. This doesn't mean disagreements don't happen, but the ideal resolution is one where both parties can save face (面子, miànzi) and restore a peaceful equilibrium, which is precisely what 讲和 aims to achieve. It's about repairing the relationship, not just ending the fight.

讲和 is a versatile verb used in a wide range of situations, from childish squabbles to international diplomacy.

This is the most common context. It's used when friends, family members, or couples want to stop arguing and make up.

• Connotation: Warm, positive, and relational.
• Formality: Informal.
• Example: `我们别吵了，讲和吧。` (Let's stop fighting and make peace.)

In a business context, 讲和 refers to settling a dispute to avoid costly litigation or a prolonged corporate battle. It implies a desire to find a mutually acceptable solution.

• Connotation: Neutral, pragmatic.
• Formality: Semi-formal to formal.
• Example: `两家公司最终同意庭外讲和。` (The two companies finally agreed to settle out of court.)

This is the most formal usage, referring to warring nations agreeing to a peace treaty or ceasefire.

• Connotation: Serious, significant.
• Formality: Highly formal.
• Example: `两国代表正在谈判讲和的条件。` (The representatives of the two countries are negotiating the terms for making peace.)

• Example 1:
  • 孩子们吵了一架，但很快就讲和了。
  • Pinyin: Háizimen chǎo le yí jià, dàn hěn kuài jiù jiǎnghé le.
  • English: The children had a fight, but they made up quickly.
  • Analysis: A classic example of 讲和 used for a minor, everyday conflict.
• Example 2:
  • 我们别再冷战了，讲和吧，好吗？
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen bié zài lěngzhàn le, jiǎnghé ba, hǎo ma?
  • English: Let's not give each other the silent treatment anymore. Let's make peace, okay?
  • Analysis: Here, `吧 (ba)` and `好吗 (hǎo ma)` soften the tone, making it a gentle suggestion between partners or friends.
• Example 3:
  • 他脾气太倔，从不主动跟人讲和。
  • Pinyin: Tā píqi tài juè, cóngbù zhǔdòng gēn rén jiǎnghé.
  • English: He's too stubborn; he never takes the initiative to make peace with people.
  • Analysis: This example uses 讲和 to describe a personality trait. `跟(gēn)…讲和(jiǎnghé)` means “to make peace with…”.
• Example 4:
  • 经过多年的战争，那两个国家终于讲和了。
  • Pinyin: Jīngguò duōnián de zhànzhēng, nà liǎng ge guójiā zhōngyú jiǎnghé le.
  • English: After many years of war, those two countries finally made peace.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates the formal, high-stakes usage of the term in international politics.
• Example 5:
  • A: 你为什么还生你哥哥的气？ B: 我不想跟他讲和。
  • Pinyin: A: Nǐ wèishénme hái shēng nǐ gēge de qì? B: Wǒ bùxiǎng gēn tā jiǎnghé.
  • English: A: Why are you still mad at your older brother? B: I don't want to make up with him.
  • Analysis: Shows the negative form, expressing a refusal to reconcile.
• Example 6: (Separable Verb Usage)
  • 你们俩都老大不小了，快讲个和吧！
  • Pinyin: Nǐmen liǎ dōu lǎodàbùxiǎo le, kuài jiǎng ge hé ba!
  • English: You two aren't kids anymore, hurry up and make peace!
  • Analysis: This is a crucial example. 讲和 is a separable verb, so you can insert other elements, like `个 (ge)`, between `讲` and `和`. This usage is very common in colloquial speech.
• Example 7:
  • 促成双方讲和是调解员的主要工作。
  • Pinyin: Cùchéng shuāngfāng jiǎnghé shì tiáojiěyuán de zhǔyào gōngzuò.
  • English: Facilitating a reconciliation between the two parties is the mediator's main job.
  • Analysis: Here, 讲和 functions almost like a noun concept: “the act of making peace.”
• Example 8:
  • 两家公司决定坐下来讲和，以避免长期的法律诉讼。
  • Pinyin: Liǎng jiā gōngsī juédìng zuò xiàlái jiǎnghé, yǐ bìmiǎn chángqī de fǎlǜ sùsòng.
  • English: The two companies decided to sit down and settle their dispute to avoid a long legal battle.
  • Analysis: Highlights the use of 讲和 in a business negotiation context.
• Example 9:
  • 如果你错了，就应该主动去讲和。
  • Pinyin: Rúguǒ nǐ cuò le, jiù yīnggāi zhǔdòng qù jiǎnghé.
  • English: If you are wrong, you should take the initiative to go and make peace.
  • Analysis: This sentence reflects the cultural value of taking responsibility to restore harmony.
• Example 10: (Separable Verb Usage)
  • 为了这点小事，值得吗？我看我们还是讲了和吧。
  • Pinyin: Wèi le zhè diǎn xiǎoshì, zhíde ma? Wǒ kàn wǒmen háishì jiǎng le hé ba.
  • English: Is it worth it for such a small matter? I think we should just make up.
  • Analysis: Another separable verb example, this time with the past-action particle `了 (le)` placed in the middle. This is grammatically correct and common.

• It's a Separable Verb: This is the most important grammatical point. You can, and often will, insert other words between `讲` and `和`.
  • Correct: 我们讲个和吧。(Let's make up.)
  • Correct: 他们讲了半天和才同意。(They talked for a long time before agreeing to make peace.)
  • Incorrect: 我们讲和个吧。(Grammatically awkward and incorrect).
• 讲和 (jiǎnghé) vs. 和平 (hépíng): This is a very common point of confusion for learners.
  • 讲和 (jiǎnghé) is a verb—the *action* of making peace.
  • 和平 (hépíng) is a noun or adjective—the *state* of peace.
  • Example:
    • Correct: 两国讲和了。(The two countries made peace.) - Verb
    • Correct: 他们生活在和平时期。(They live in a time of peace.) - Noun
    • Incorrect: 两国和平了。 (This sounds like “The two countries 'peaced'.”)
• 讲和 (jiǎnghé) vs. 和解 (héjiě): These are similar, but with a key difference in formality.
  • 讲和 (jiǎnghé) is a general term for making peace, used in both very informal and very formal contexts.
  • 和解 (héjiě) means “to reconcile” or “to reach a settlement.” It is more formal and often used in legal or official contexts. You'd `和解` a lawsuit, but you'd `讲和` an argument with your friend.

• 和平 (hépíng) - The state or condition of peace (noun). The ultimate goal of 讲和.
• 和解 (héjiě) - A more formal verb for reconciliation, often used in legal or official settlements.
• 谈判 (tánpàn) - To negotiate (verb); negotiation (noun). The process that often leads to 讲和.
• 妥协 (tuǒxié) - To compromise (verb). A necessary action for two parties to be able to 讲和.
• 吵架 (chǎojià) - To quarrel, to argue (verb). An antonym; the action that precedes the need for 讲和.
• 冲突 (chōngtū) - Conflict, clash (noun). A more formal word for the situation that requires 讲和.
• 和谐 (héxié) - Harmonious (adjective); harmony (noun). The cultural ideal that 讲和 helps to restore.
• 停战 (tíngzhàn) - Ceasefire, truce (verb/noun). Literally “stop war.” This focuses only on stopping the fighting, whereas 讲和 implies resolving the underlying conflict.