negotiate
Definitions
To discuss something in order to reach an agreement
谈判，协商
To get past or successfully deal with an obstacle or difficulty
顺利通过，应付（障碍、难关）
Root Breakdown
Root-derivedneg- (not) + oti (otium, leisure) + -ate = 'to be engaged in non-leisure,' i.e. to do business. The 'doing business' sense narrowed to bargaining and reaching deals. By metaphor, it also means to deal successfully with an obstacle — as if striking a deal with it.
Why It Means This
The leap from 'bargain' to 'get past an obstacle' is the interesting part. Once 'negotiate' meant working your way to a successful outcome through effort and skill, English applied that same image to physical difficulties: negotiating a hairpin bend or a crowded crossing is 'handling it successfully,' as if you outmaneuvered it. The deal-making sense and the obstacle sense share one idea — skillfully working your way through.
Common Collocations
- 1.negotiate a deal谈成交易
- 2.negotiate a contract协商合同
- 3.negotiate a settlement谈成和解
- 4.negotiate a bend通过弯道
Example Sentences
- 1.
We managed to negotiate a better deal with the supplier.
- 2.
Diplomats are trying to negotiate a ceasefire.
- 3.
The driver carefully negotiated the icy mountain road.
- 4.
She had to negotiate a steep flight of stairs on crutches.
Synonym Comparison
- negotiate — reach agreement through back-and-forth discussion; implies give and take
- bargain — haggle specifically over price or terms; more transactional
- mediate — a third party helps two sides agree; you don't mediate your own deal
- broker — to arrange a deal between others, often as a go-between
- haggle — informal, persistent arguing over a small price (at a market)