Meaning
共同 describes things that are shared, mutual, or done together by multiple parties. It emphasizes collaboration, collective ownership, or shared characteristics. The word combines 共 (together) and 同 (same) to create the meaning of 'having in common' or 'doing jointly.'
Usage
共同 typically appears before nouns as an adjective (共同利益 'common interests') or before verbs as an adverb (共同努力 'work together'). It's common in both formal and informal contexts, though it appears more frequently in written or official language when discussing shared goals, responsibilities, or characteristics.
Examples
- 01我们有很多共同的爱好。.We have many common hobbies.
- 02让我们共同努力，完成这个项目。, .Let's work together to complete this project.
Characters
Common collocations
- 共同点common point, similarity
- 共同努力to work together, joint effort
- 共同利益common interests
- 共同语言common language (literal or figurative)
Antonyms
Origin
Both characters reinforce the concept of togetherness: 共 originally depicted two hands holding an object together, while 同 means 'same' or 'together,' creating a compound that emphasizes shared participation or qualities.