错综复杂

• Pinyin: cuò zōng fù zá
• Hanzi breakdown: 错 = interweave; 综 = 纟+ 宗 (weave together); 复 = again, complex; 杂 = mixed

Meaning

Intricate and complex; tangled; convoluted. An idiom describing situations or systems that are complicated with many interrelated factors.

Used for relationships, political situations, business dealings, or any scenario where multiple factors intertwine making analysis difficult. Stronger than just 复杂, emphasizing the tangled, interwoven nature of the complexity.

Examples

1. 中东地区的局势错综复杂，涉及多国利益博弈。 The situation in the Middle East is intricate and complex, involving power plays among multiple countries.
2. 这起案件错综复杂，牵涉到多个部门和数十名嫌疑人。 This case is extremely convoluted, involving multiple departments and dozens of suspects.
3. 公司内部的人事关系错综复杂，新来的经理需要时间摸清情况。 The interpersonal relationships within the company are tangled and complex — the new manager needs time to figure things out.

Usage Guide

Context: politics, analysis, situations

Tone: serious

Do Say

• 这个问题错综复杂。(This problem is extremely complex.)
• 国际形势错综复杂。(The international situation is intricate and complex.)

Don't Say

• 这道数学题错综复杂 (Too dramatic for a math problem — use 复杂 or 难 instead)

Origin & History

Classical idiom combining 错综 (interwoven, crossing) + 复杂 (complex). 错综 originally described patterns where threads cross and interlace.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Educated