Definition
和事老 (hé shì lǎo) refers to a person who mediates disputes, often by compromising principles to achieve superficial harmony — a "peacemaker" with a slightly negative connotation. It is used when someone smooths over conflicts without addressing the root cause. The variant 和事佬 is also common.
n
mediator who settles disputes by compromising principles (often derogatory)
Examples
- 和事老，。Tā zǒng xǐhuan dāng hé, liǎng biān dōu bù dézuì.He always likes to play the mediator, offending neither side.
- ，和事老，。Zài zhège wèntí shàng, tā zhǐshì yí ge hé, méiyǒu jiānchí yuánzé.On this issue, he is just a peacemaker who didn't stick to principles.
- 和事老，。Bié zài zuò hé le, yǒuxiē máodùn bìxū shuō qīngchu.Stop being a mediator — some conflicts need to be clarified.
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