HSK · Level 100
45 words
Chinese word
凑合
Pronunciation
Pinyincòu hé
Meaning
- adjectiveso-so
Example
他做的饭凑合，还能吃。tā zuò de fàn còu hé hái néng chī
The food he made is so-so, but it is still edible.
More examples
这台旧电脑运行得很慢，但凑合还能用。zhè tái jiù diàn nǎo yùn xíng de hěn màn dàn còu hé hái néng yòng
This old computer runs very slowly, but it is still usable.
Core concept
Using whatever is at hand to produce an acceptable result, even when the result is not ideal.
Common phrases
还凑合hái còu hé
still be okay
Similar words
将就jiāng jiù: Tolerated as an imperfect choice when a better option is unavailable.
勉强mián qiǎng: Just barely sufficient, with the result holding together only through difficulty or effort.
过得去guò de qù: Good enough to meet the lowest reasonable standard and avoid serious concern.
还行hái xíng: Generally okay and easy to accept, even though it falls short of being very good.
Definition in Chinese
将就、勉强达到需要或标准；既可作动词表示拼凑、将就使用，也可作形容词表示勉强可以接受。jiāng jiù mián qiǎng dá dào xū yào huò biāo zhǔn jì kě zuò dòng cí biǎo shì pīn còu jiāng jiù shǐ yòng yě kě zuò xíng róng cí biǎo shì mián qiǎng ké yǐ jiē shòu
Word origin
The compound 凑 (còu, "bring together") + 合 (hé, "join") develops from combining available things to the broader idea of making an imperfect arrangement work.
Usage tips
- English speakers often hear "so-so" as a neutral middle rating, but this word can also suggest making do because better materials, time, or choices are unavailable.