妥协
tuǒxié · HSK 7
compromise
🤝 妥 (proper/settled) + 协 (cooperate) = settle things by cooperating = compromise
妥 means proper or settled, and 协 means to cooperate or coordinate (the same 协 as in 协作 cooperate). When two sides settle things properly by cooperating, they reach a compromise.
妥 — claw 爫 on top + woman 女 below
妥 depicts a hand (爫) resting on a woman (女), originally suggesting calming or settling someone down. From this came the meanings 'peaceful,' 'secure,' and 'appropriate.' Today it mainly means 'proper' or 'satisfactory,' as in 妥当 (proper) and 妥协 (compromise).