Chinese word

对付

Pronunciation

Pinyinduì fù

Meaning

  • verbdeal with

Example

我不知道怎么对付这个问题。wǒ bù zhī dào zěn me duì fù zhè ge wèn tí

I don't know how to deal with this problem.

Illustration for 对付 (deal with)

More examples

她能冷静地对付各种麻烦。tā néng lěng jìng dì duì fù gè zhǒng má fán

She can calmly handle all kinds of trouble.

Core concept

A practical way of facing what is in front and bringing it under control, either through a full solution or through a temporary workaround.

Common phrases

  • 对付问题duì fù wèn tí

    handle a problem

  • 对付困难duì fù kùn nán

    handle difficulties

  • 对付麻烦duì fù má fán

    handle trouble

Similar words

处理chú lǐ: Handling a matter through an orderly process and suitable methods.
解决jiě jué: Solving a problem by removing its underlying cause.
应对yìng duì: Adapting a response and taking action to handle a situation.
对待duì dài: Treating a person or matter according to a particular attitude or approach.

Definition in Chinese

采取措施应对或处理眼前的困难、麻烦或某人，既可指认真解决也可指勉强应对。cái qǔ cuò shī yìng duì huò chú lǐ yǎn qián de kùn nán má fán huò mǒu rén jì kě zhǐ rèn zhēn jiě jué yě kě zhǐ mián qiǎng yìng duì

Word origin

The compound 对付 (duìfù, "deal with") brings together 对 (duì, "face or turn toward") and 付 (fù, "hand over or entrust"), suggesting that something in front receives active attention and resources.

Usage tips

  • In everyday conversation, 对付 (duìfù, "deal with") applied to a person can frame that person as an obstacle to manage, so the wording may sound blunt even without hostile intent.

Other meanings

  • make do withverb

Opposites

Word lists with this word