凑 còu to piece together
to piece together; to assemble
How to remember 凑: 冫 ice + 奏 to play = to piece together. On the ice rink five kids who each play one instrument meet at halftime, and the coach helps them to piece together a band.
Component breakdown
凑 = 冫 ice + 奏 to play
- 冫 ice
- 奏 to play
On the ice rink five kids who each play one instrument meet at halftime, and the coach helps them to piece together a band.
How it is used
- To gather scattered bits together - 凑钱 (còu qián) to pool money, 凑齐 (còuqí) to get a full set, 凑热闹 (còu rènao) to join in the fun.
- 凑合 (còuhe) = to make do / it'll do - a very common spoken word for accepting something so-so: 就凑合用吧 just make do with it.
- 凑巧 (còuqiǎo) = as luck would have it / by coincidence; the common thread is things coming together, often loosely.