Definition

1. Verb:
   • To negotiate: To discuss something formally or officially with another party in order to reach an agreement or settle a dispute. This is the core meaning, involving a process of dialogue and bargaining.
   • To bargain: To discuss the terms of a transaction or agreement, often with the aim of getting a better deal.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Hai công ty đang thương lượng hợp đồng. (The two companies are negotiating the contract.)
  • Chúng tôi cần thương lượng giá cả trước khi mua. (We need to bargain over the price before buying.)
  • Họ đã thương lượng để chấm dứt cuộc đình công. (They negotiated to end the strike.)

Advanced Usage

• The word often implies a formal or structured discussion between parties with potentially differing interests, aiming for a mutual compromise.
• It is commonly used in business, legal, diplomatic, and labor contexts.

Variants and Related Words

• Đàm phán (v): To negotiate, often used in more formal or diplomatic contexts (e.g., peace talks, trade agreements).
• Bàn bạc (v): To discuss, to talk over; a more general term for discussion that may not involve formal bargaining.
• Cuộc thương lượng (n): A negotiation, a round of talks.
  • Cuộc thương lượng giữa công đoàn và chủ lao động đã thất bại. (The negotiation between the union and the employer failed.)

Synonyms

• Negotiate: To try to reach an agreement through discussion.
• Bargain: To negotiate the terms of a deal.
• Haggle: To negotiate, especially over price in a persistent manner.
• Confer: To have discussions; to exchange opinions.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• Ngồi vào bàn thương lượng: To sit down at the negotiation table.
  • Các bên xung đột cuối cùng đã ngồi vào bàn thương lượng. (The conflicting parties finally sat down at the negotiation table.)
• Thương lượng tập thể: Collective bargaining (specific term in labor relations).
  • Thương lượng tập thể giúp bảo vệ quyền lợi người lao động. (Collective bargaining helps protect workers' rights.)

verb

1. to negotiate