mortise and tenon; fig. compatible or incompatible
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
2 senses · 4 examplesnoun
mortise and tenon fitting together; fig. mutual compatibility, fitting together perfectly
literaryModern reading: záoruì; old reading: zuòruì. Refers to the precise fit between a mortise (záo) and tenon (ruì), used metaphorically for compatible personalities or things. Also written as 枘凿.
Tā他
men们
liǎng两
rén人
xìng性
gé格
záo凿
ruì枘
xiāng相
yìng应
，
hé合
zuò作
fēi非
cháng常
yú愉
kuài快
。
Their personalities fit together perfectly, making their collaboration very pleasant.
Zhè这
liǎng两
jiā家
gōng公
sī司
de的
lǐ理
niàn念
záo凿
ruì枘
xiāng相
tóu投
，
hěn很
kuái快
dá达
chéng成
le了
hé合
zuò作
xié协
yì议
。
These two companies share compatible philosophies and quickly reached a cooperation agreement.
noun
incompatibility; misfit; square peg in a round hole (abbreviation of 圆凿方枘)
literaryAbbreviation of 圆凿方枘 (yuán záo fāng ruì, round mortise and square tenon), indicating complete incompatibility. Also written as 枘凿.
Tā他
de的
xiǎng想
fǎ法
yǔ与
tuán团
duì队
záo凿
ruì枘
bù不
hé合
，
hěn很
nán难
jì继
xù续
hé合
zuò作
。
His ideas are incompatible with the team, making continued cooperation difficult.
Zhè这
liǎng两
zhǒng种
zhì制
dù度
záo凿
ruì枘
nán难
rù入
，
nán难
yǐ以
zài在
tóng同
yī一
tǐ体
xì系
zhōng中
bìng并
cún存
。
These two systems are completely incompatible and cannot coexist within the same framework.