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协商 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
协商xiéshāngto consult withHSK 7, n, rank #10199, Hard
协商xiéshāngto talk things overHSK 7, n, rank #10199, Hard
协商xiéshāngagreementHSK 7, n, rank #10199, Hard
xiéshāng(xie2shang1) T2
  1. 1to consult with
  2. 2to talk things over
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March 24, 2026
协商(協商)xiéshāng(xie2shang1)

协商 (xié shāng) refers to the process of consulting or negotiating to reach an agreement. It is commonly used in business, diplomacy, and conflict resolution contexts where parties discuss terms to find a mutual understanding or solution.

Frequency#10199DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of 协商 reflects the importance of harmony and collective decision-making, often seen in family discussions or business meetings where consensus is valued over individual opinions.

Memory Tip

Think of 协商 as 'sitting together to share ideas.' The character 协 (xié) looks like two people (the top component) collaborating, while 商 (shāng) signifies commerce or negotiation. Imagine two merchants discussing terms at a market to remember the pronunciation and meaning.

Meanings of 协商

xiéshāng(xie2shang1)
1to consult with
2to talk things over
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 协商

协商Simplified
協商Traditional
Strokes
Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#10199Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRC1

Podcast: 协商

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Podcast: 协商

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AI Study Notes for 协商

Quick Contrast

谈判 (tánpàn): use 协商 when emphasizing consultation and mutual understanding, whereas 谈判 focuses more on formal negotiation and may imply a more adversarial approach.

Memory Mnemonic

Think of 协商 as 'sitting together to share ideas.' The character 协 (xié) looks like two people (the top component) collaborating, while 商 (shāng) signifies commerce or negotiation. Imagine two merchants discussing terms at a market to remember the pronunciation and meaning.

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 协商 with similar terms like 谈判 (tán pàn), which emphasizes formal negotiation rather than the consulting aspect. This term is more commonly used in formal or professional contexts, so ensure you match the register appropriately. Common collocations include 协商方案 (xié shāng fāng'àn - consultation plan) and 协商会议 (xié shāng huìyì - negotiation meeting).

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK Level 6 word, 协商 connects well with other terms related to communication and negotiation, such as 交流 (jiāo liú - exchange) and 合作 (hé zuò - cooperation). Students should focus on using it in sentences involving negotiations or discussions.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of 协商 reflects the importance of harmony and collective decision-making, often seen in family discussions or business meetings where consensus is valued over individual opinions.

Common Mistakes

Learners often misuse 协商 in informal contexts, treating it like a casual chat. For example, saying '我们去协商一下' (wǒmen qù xié shāng yīxià - let's consult a bit) may sound too formal; instead, use '聊聊' (liáo liáo - chat) for casual conversations.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 协商

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Component Characters

xiéto cooperate
HSK 46 strokes
View full entry
Shāngthe Shang dynasty, 16th to 11th century BC
HSK 711 strokes
View full entry

Write 协商

Practice writing 协商 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Grammar Patterns of 协商

协商 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 3 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 3

Complete the Sentence

复杂的行政____使决策过程透明度不高.

The complex administrative arrangements render the decision - making process somewhat opaque.

Example Sentences for 协商 (3)

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1
复杂的行政协商使决策过程透明度不高.

fù zá de háng zhèng xié shāng shǐ jué cè guò chéng tòu míng dù bù gāo.

The complex administrative arrangements render the decision - making process somewhat opaque.
2
汉森按协商出价3.51亿英镑接管该公司。

hàn sēn àn xié shāng chū jià3.51 3.51 yì yīng bàng jiē guǎn gāi gōng。

Hanson made an agreed takeover bid of £351 million.
3
甲、乙双方,经友好协商一致,订立要合同.

jiǎ、 、 yǐ shuāng, fāng , jīng yǒu hǎo xié shāng, yī zhì , dìng lì.

Party A and B have reached an agreement through friendly consultation to conclude the following contract.

Cultural Notes for 协商

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, the concept of 协商 reflects the importance of harmony and collective decision-making, often seen in family discussions or business meetings where consensus is valued over individual opinions.

Frequently Asked Questions about 协商

While it can be used in everyday contexts, it is more common in formal discussions, especially in professional settings.