交锋

• Pinyin: jiāo fēng
• Hanzi breakdown: 交 = to intersect, meet; 锋 = 钅(metal) + 夆 (meet) — blade, sharp edge, front

Meaning

To clash; to cross swords; to confront. Direct confrontation or competition between opposing sides.

Originally meant weapons clashing in battle, now extended to any direct confrontation: sports matches, debates, negotiations, or rivalries. Implies active, direct engagement rather than indirect competition. Common in sports journalism and political commentary. More dramatic than 竞争 (compete).

Examples

1. 两支顶级球队在决赛中正面交锋。 The two top teams faced off directly in the finals.
2. 双方在会议上就这个议题激烈交锋。 Both sides clashed fiercely over this issue at the meeting.
3. 这是两位棋王的第十次交锋。 This is the tenth confrontation between the two chess masters.

Usage Guide

Context: sports, politics, competition

Tone: dramatic

Do Say

• 这是两队本赛季的首次交锋。(This is the first clash between the two teams this season.)
• 在辩论中他们言语交锋。(They clashed verbally during the debate.)

Don't Say

• 用'交锋'描述友好合作 (Don't use 交锋 for friendly collaboration — it implies adversarial confrontation; use 合作 or 交流 for cooperative interactions)

Origin & History

Composed of 交 (to cross, meet) + 锋 (blade, front line). Originally described weapons meeting in combat, now extended to any confrontation.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal