僵局

• Pinyin: jiāng jú
• Hanzi breakdown: 僵 = 亻+ 畺 — rigid; 局 = 尸 (body) + 句 (sentence) — situation, game, bureau

Meaning

Deadlock; stalemate; impasse. A situation where no progress can be made.

Used for negotiations, conflicts, games, or any situation where opposing sides cannot move forward. Common phrases include 打破僵局 (break the deadlock), 陷入僵局 (fall into a deadlock). More formal than everyday expressions like 卡住 or 进退两难.

Examples

1. 劳资双方的谈判陷入了僵局。 The labor-management negotiations have reached a deadlock.
2. 有人需要做出让步才能打破这个僵局。 Someone needs to make a concession to break this impasse.
3. 国际调解员试图化解两国之间的外交僵局。 International mediators are trying to resolve the diplomatic stalemate between the two countries.

Usage Guide

Context: negotiations, politics, business

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 谈判僵局持续了三个月。(The negotiation deadlock lasted three months.)
• 他的提议打破了僵局。(His proposal broke the deadlock.)

Don't Say

• 用'僵局'形容个人犹豫不决 (Don't use 僵局 for personal indecision — it implies conflict between parties; use 纠结 or 犹豫 for individual hesitation)

Origin & History

Composed of 僵 (rigid, deadlocked) + 局 (situation, game). Together they describe a situation that has become frozen and immovable.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Educated speakers