矛盾

• Pinyin: máo dùn
• Hanzi breakdown: 矛 = pictograph of a spear; 盾 = 厂 (cliff) + 目 (eye) + 十 — a shield

Meaning

Contradiction; conflict; contradictory. A state of opposition or inconsistency between two things.

From the classical Chinese parable of a man selling both an unbreakable spear (矛) and an impenetrable shield (盾). As a noun, means conflict or contradiction. As an adjective, means conflicted or contradictory.

Examples

1. 他的说法前后矛盾，让人无法相信。 His statements are contradictory, making it hard to believe him.
2. 工作和家庭之间的矛盾让她很苦恼。 The conflict between work and family troubles her greatly.
3. 我们应该通过沟通来解决矛盾。 We should resolve conflicts through communication.

Usage Guide

Context: logic, relationships, philosophy

Tone: analytical

Do Say

• 这两个说法是矛盾的。(These two statements are contradictory.)
• 我心里很矛盾。(I feel conflicted inside.)

Don't Say

• 说'我和他很矛盾'表示关系不好 (Don't use 矛盾 alone to mean a bad relationship — say 有矛盾 or 关系不好; 我很矛盾 means you feel internally conflicted)

Origin & History

矛 (spear) + 盾 (shield). From a famous parable where a merchant claimed his spear could pierce anything and his shield could block anything — a logical contradiction.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal