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迎合 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
迎合yínghéto cater toHSK 7, unknown, 13 strokes, rank #13430, Very Hard
迎合yínghéto pander toHSK 7, unknown, 13 strokes, rank #13430, Very Hard
yínghé(ying2he2)ying he T2
  1. 1to cater to
  2. 2to pander to
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March 24, 2026

迎合yínghé(ying2he2)

迎合 (yíng hé) means to cater to someone's needs or desires, often with a connotation of insincerity or pandering. This term is commonly used in contexts where someone adjusts their actions or opinions merely to please others, rather than expressing their true thoughts or feelings.

Strokes13Frequency#13430DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, the idea of harmony and maintaining relationships can lead to 迎合 behaviors, where individuals may suppress their true opinions to avoid conflict. This reflects the importance of group cohesion over individual expression.

Memory tip

Imagine a 'welcome' (迎) sign at a restaurant that 'caters' (合) to every whim of its customers, even if it means compromising on quality. The character 迎 looks like a person waving, welcoming guests, while 合 represents coming together, suggesting compliance to please others.

Meanings of 迎合

yínghé(ying2he2)
1to cater to
2to pander to
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About 迎合

迎合Simplified
13Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

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AI study notes for 迎合

Quick Contrast

迎合 (yínghé) vs 迎接 (yíngjiē) — use 迎合 when focusing on pandering to desires, while 迎接 emphasizes welcoming or receiving someone.

Usage Notes

Be cautious with the tone when using 迎合, as it can carry a negative connotation of insincerity. It is often used in informal discussions about relationships or business practices. Common collocations include 迎合市场 (catering to the market) or 迎合观众 (catering to the audience).

HSK Study Tips

This word may not be on the HSK list, but it connects to other HSK vocabulary related to social interactions and personal expression. Focus on understanding the implications of insincerity when using this term in conversation.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 迎合 with 迎接 (to welcome), using it incorrectly in contexts where genuine warmth is intended. For example, saying '我会迎合你' (I will welcome you) should be corrected to '我会迎接你' for genuine welcoming.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 迎合

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Component characters

迎yíngto welcome
HSK 57 strokes辶
View full entry
合gěto close
HSK 56 strokes口
View full entry

How to say to cater to in Chinese

“to cater to” in Chinese is迎合yínghé

迎合 (yíng hé) means to cater to someone's needs or desires, often with a connotation of insincerity or pandering. This term is commonly used in contexts where someone adjusts their actions or opinions merely to please others, rather than expressing their true thoughts or feelings.

When to use 迎合

Be cautious with the tone when using 迎合, as it can carry a negative connotation of insincerity. It is often used in informal discussions about relationships or business practices. Common collocations include 迎合市场 (catering to the market) or 迎合观众 (catering to the audience).

迎合 or something close to it

迎合 (yínghé) vs 迎接 (yíngjiē) — use 迎合 when focusing on pandering to desires, while 迎接 emphasizes welcoming or receiving someone.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 迎合 with 迎接 (to welcome), using it incorrectly in contexts where genuine warmth is intended. For example, saying '我会迎合你' (I will welcome you) should be corrected to '我会迎接你' for genuine welcoming.

Write 迎合

迎
合

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Frequently asked questions about 迎合

While it often implies insincerity, 迎合 can sometimes be neutral, depending on the context. It's important to assess the situation.

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