求同存异
求同存异 (qiú tóng cún yì) literally means “seek commonality, preserve differences” and expresses “agree on the common, shelve the rest”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving wisdom and learning.
Also searched as: qiu tong cun yi, qiu tong cun yi,求同存异 meaning, 求同存异 in english
Agree on the common, shelve the rest
Pronunciation: qiú tóng cún yì Literal meaning: Seek commonality, preserve differences
Origin & Usage
This is a twentieth-century diplomatic phrase rather than a classical one, and it is bound up with Zhou Enlai's speech at the Bandung Conference in 1955, where a room of newly independent states with very little in common was asked to seek what was shared (求同) and set aside (存) what differed (异). 存 is the exact word: not resolve the differences, not conceal them, leave them standing. That is what makes it usable, and it has since spread well beyond diplomacy into any negotiation where agreement on everything is not available.
Examples
English: "In negotiations, they aimed to find shared interests while respecting each other's unique perspectives."
Chinese: 在谈判中，他们旨在寻找共同利益，同时尊重彼此的独特观点。
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about wisdom & learning
异曲同工
yì qǔ tóng gōng
Different methods, equally good results
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大同小异
dà tóng xiǎo yì
Essentially the same with minor differences
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名存实亡
míng cún shí wáng
Exist in name only
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日新月异
rì xīn yuè yì
Changing rapidly; improving daily
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刻舟求剑
kè zhōu qiú jiàn
Using outdated methods foolishly
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实事求是
shí shì qiú shì
Judge by evidence, not doctrine
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不求甚解
bù qiú shèn jiě
Content with superficial understanding
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急于求成
jí yú qiú chéng
Be impatient for success; rush things
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 求同存异 mean in English?
求同存异 (qiú tóng cún yì) literally translates to “Seek commonality, preserve differences” and is used to express “Agree on the common, shelve the rest”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Wisdom & Learning category.
When is 求同存异 used?
Situation: In negotiations, they aimed to find shared interests while respecting each other's unique perspectives.
What is the pinyin for 求同存异?
The pinyin pronunciation for 求同存异 is “qiú tóng cún yì”.