wěi qū qiú quán: 委曲求全 - To Compromise for the Greater Good; To Swallow One's Pride

• Keywords: 委曲求全, wěi qū qiú quán, Chinese idiom, compromise, sacrifice, swallow one's pride, greater good, maintain harmony, Chinese culture, endure grievance, make concessions.
• Summary: Learn the deep cultural meaning of the Chinese idiom 委曲求全 (wěi qū qiú quán), a term that goes beyond simple compromise. This page breaks down how to use this phrase, which means to swallow one's pride or endure a personal grievance in order to achieve a more important, collective goal. Discover its roots in Chinese culture, its practical use in modern life from business to family, and how it differs from Western concepts of compromise, helping you understand the value placed on harmony and the “greater good.”

• Pinyin (with tone marks): wěi qū qiú quán
• Part of Speech: Chengyu (Idiom) / Verb Phrase
• HSK Level: N/A (Chengyu, Advanced)
• Concise Definition: To make concessions and endure wrongs in order to achieve an overall goal.
• In a Nutshell: `委曲求全` describes a situation where you have to suppress your own feelings, accept something unfair, or “bend” your principles for the sake of a larger objective. It's about enduring a personal loss (of face, pride, or fairness) to ensure the success or integrity of the whole (a relationship, a project, a family). It carries a heavy sense of personal sacrifice.

• 委 (wěi): To bend, to be crooked; also part of the word `委屈 (wěiqū)`, which means “to feel wronged or aggrieved.”
• 曲 (qū): Crooked, bent, wrong.
• 求 (qiú): To seek, to pursue, to ask for.
• 全 (quán): Whole, complete, entire.

The first two characters, 委曲 (wěiqū), literally mean “bent and crooked,” and together form a word that means “to be wronged or aggrieved.” The last two characters, 求全 (qiúquán), mean “to seek completeness.” Therefore, the idiom paints a vivid picture: “to endure being bent and wronged in order to seek the preservation of the whole.”

`委曲求全` is a cornerstone concept for understanding Chinese social dynamics, which are heavily influenced by Confucian values of collectivism and harmony. While in Western cultures, “standing up for yourself” and defending individual rights are often seen as paramount virtues, traditional Chinese culture frequently praises the ability to prioritize the group over the individual. To `委曲求全` is often seen as a sign of maturity, wisdom, and self-control. It's the act of looking beyond your own immediate feelings to 顾全大局 (gù quán dà jú) - take the big picture into consideration. A useful comparison is with the Western concept of “taking one for the team.” While similar, `委曲求全` carries a much stronger connotation of enduring a personal injustice or emotional hardship. It's not just about doing an unpleasant task for the group's benefit; it's about swallowing a grievance, an unfair criticism, or a loss of face to prevent a conflict that could harm the group's stability. This is why it's so common in contexts like preserving family harmony or ensuring a critical business deal doesn't fall apart over personal disagreements.

`委曲求全` is used in both formal and informal contexts, but it always describes a significant situation. Its connotation can be positive (praising a selfless act) or negative (criticizing someone for being a doormat).

• In Relationships and Family: This is a very common context. A person might `委曲求全` to appease their in-laws, avoid a divorce for the sake of the children, or maintain peace in a multi-generational household. Here, it is often viewed as a necessary, if difficult, virtue.
• In the Workplace: An employee might `委曲求全` by accepting a manager's unfair decision to ensure a project is completed on time. A team leader might accept blame for a subordinate's mistake to protect the team's morale and reputation.
• In Business Negotiations: A company might agree to unfavorable terms on a minor point to secure a larger, more important long-term partnership. This is a strategic use of the concept.

The tone depends entirely on who is speaking. If you praise someone for it, you're calling them wise and selfless. If you tell a friend, “你不能一味地委曲求全” (You can't just blindly swallow your pride all the time), you are criticizing them for being too passive and not standing up for themselves.

• Example 1:
  • 为了孩子，她在婚姻中一直委曲求全。
  • Pinyin: Wèile háizi, tā zài hūnyīn zhōng yīzhí wěi qū qiú quán.
  • English: For the sake of her children, she has always made painful compromises in her marriage.
  • Analysis: This is a classic example of using the term in a family context. It implies she has endured unhappiness or unfairness to keep the family unit “whole” (全).
• Example 2:
  • 在这次谈判中，我们不能委曲求全，必须坚持我们的核心利益。
  • Pinyin: Zài zhè cì tánpàn zhōng, wǒmen bùnéng wěi qū qiú quán, bìxū jiānchí wǒmen de héxīn lìyì.
  • English: In this negotiation, we cannot just make concessions; we must insist on our core interests.
  • Analysis: Here, the phrase is used in a negative sense, meaning something to be avoided. It highlights that there's a limit to compromise.
• Example 3:
  • 他委曲求全地接受了老板不公正的批评，只是为了保住这份工作。
  • Pinyin: Tā wěi qū qiú quán de jiēshòule lǎobǎn bù gōngzhèng de pīpíng, zhǐshì wèile bǎozhù zhè fèn gōngzuò.
  • English: He swallowed his pride and accepted the boss's unfair criticism, just to keep his job.
  • Analysis: This shows the term describing a difficult choice in a professional setting, emphasizing the feeling of injustice. The `地` particle turns the idiom into an adverb describing *how* he accepted the criticism.
• Example 4:
  • 有时候，为了团队的和谐，个人的委曲求全是必要的。
  • Pinyin: Yǒu shíhòu, wèile tuánduì de héxié, gèrén de wěi qū qiú quán shì bìyào de.
  • English: Sometimes, for the sake of team harmony, personal sacrifice and compromise are necessary.
  • Analysis: This sentence frames `委曲求全` as a positive and necessary virtue for collective success, reflecting a common management philosophy.
• Example 5:
  • 我不希望你在这段关系里总是委曲求全，你的感受也很重要。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ bù xīwàng nǐ zài zhè duàn guānxì lǐ zǒngshì wěi qū qiú quán, nǐ de gǎnshòu yě hěn zhòngyào.
  • English: I don't want you to always be the one swallowing your pride in this relationship; your feelings are important too.
  • Analysis: A friend or partner might say this, using the term to point out an unhealthy dynamic. This is a very common piece of advice.
• Example 6:
  • 面对无理的要求，我们选择抗争，而不是委曲求全。
  • Pinyin: Miànduì wúlǐ de yāoqiú, wǒmen xuǎnzé kàngzhēng, ér bùshì wěi qū qiú quán.
  • English: Faced with unreasonable demands, we chose to fight back rather than to meekly compromise.
  • Analysis: This sets up a clear contrast between standing up for oneself (`抗争`) and what is seen as weak compliance (`委曲求全`).
• Example 7:
  • 为了国家统一的大局，一些暂时的委曲求全是可以理解的。
  • Pinyin: Wèile guójiā tǒngyī de dàjú, yīxiē zànshí de wěi qū qiú quán shì kěyǐ lǐjiě de.
  • English: For the greater cause of national unity, some temporary compromises and concessions are understandable.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates the use of the idiom on a grand, political scale. The sacrifice is framed as being for the “greater good” (`大局`).
• Example 8:
  • 这种委曲求全换来的和平，真的能长久吗？
  • Pinyin: Zhè zhǒng wěi qū qiú quán huàn lái de hépíng, zhēn de néng chángjiǔ ma?
  • English: Can the peace obtained through this kind of grievance-swallowing compromise truly last?
  • Analysis: A rhetorical question that challenges the wisdom of `委曲求全`, suggesting it might only be a temporary solution that doesn't solve the root problem.
• Example 9:
  • 他不是懦弱，他的委曲求全是一种顾全大局的智慧。
  • Pinyin: Tā bùshì nuòruò, tā de wěi qū qiú quán shì yī zhǒng gùquán dàjú de zhìhuì.
  • English: He isn't weak; his willingness to make concessions is a type of wisdom that takes the bigger picture into account.
  • Analysis: This sentence directly defends the act of `委曲求全`, distinguishing it from weakness (`懦弱`) and framing it as a form of wisdom (`智慧`).
• Example 10:
  • 在原则问题上，我们绝不委曲求全。
  • Pinyin: Zài yuánzé wèntí shàng, wǒmen jué bù wěi qū qiú quán.
  • English: On matters of principle, we will absolutely not make unprincipled compromises.
  • Analysis: A strong, formal statement often used in business or politics to draw a “red line” where compromise is not an option.

• Not the same as “compromise”: The most common mistake for learners is to equate `委曲求全` with the English word “compromise.” The Chinese word for a neutral compromise is 妥协 (tuǒxié). `委曲求全` specifically implies that one party is enduring an unfair or unjust situation (`委曲`) for a bigger goal. A `妥协` can be a fair, happy agreement where both sides give a little.
• Not for trivial matters: Using this idiom for a small inconvenience is incorrect and sounds overly dramatic.
  • Incorrect: 咖啡店没有燕麦奶了，我只好委曲求全喝了杏仁奶。(The coffee shop was out of oat milk, so I had to swallow my pride and drink almond milk.)
  • Reason: This is a minor preference, not a significant grievance or a sacrifice for a “greater good.” A simple `只好 (zhǐhǎo) - had no choice but to` is sufficient.
• Connotation is key: Remember the meaning can be positive or negative. Pay close attention to the context to see if it's being praised as wisdom or criticized as weakness.

• 顾全大局 (gù quán dà jú): To take the big picture into consideration. This is the *reason* or motivation for `委曲求全`.
• 忍辱负重 (rěn rǔ fù zhòng): To endure humiliation (辱) and bear a heavy burden (重). This is a close synonym, but often implies an even greater, longer-term mission or responsibility.
• 息事宁人 (xī shì níng rén): To quell a dispute and appease people; to pour oil on troubled waters. A strategy that often involves one party choosing to `委曲求全`.
• 忍气吞声 (rěn qì tūn shēng): To swallow one's anger and hold one's tongue. This describes the specific action of suppressing one's feelings, which is a core part of `委曲求全`.
• 委屈 (wěiqū): (v./n.) To feel wronged; a grievance. This is the core emotion that one must endure when making the choice to `委曲求全`.
• 妥协 (tuǒxié): (v.) To compromise. A more neutral and general term. Unlike `委曲求全`, it does not imply that the compromise is unfair to one party.
• 退一步海阔天空 (tuì yī bù hǎi kuò tiān kōng): “Take a step back to find a vast sea and a boundless sky.” A proverb that philosophically supports the idea of compromise and letting go to achieve a better outcome.