凑合 còuhe to bring together
to bring together; to make do in a bad situation; to just get by; to improvise; passable; not too bad
How to remember 凑合: 凑 to piece together + 合 join together = to bring together.
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How it is used
- Colloquial 'to make do / get by' with something less than ideal - 没有好的，就凑合用吧 (méiyǒu hǎo de, jiù còuhe yòng ba) there's nothing better, just make do.
- As an adjective it means 'passable, so-so': 这饭菜还凑合 (this food is OK-ish). Also 'to gather/piece together': 凑合人手 to scrape together enough people. Note toneless 合.