较劲

• Pinyin: jiào jìn
• Hanzi breakdown: 较 = 车 (vehicle) + 交 — to compare; 劲 = 力 (strength) + 圣 — strength, vigor

Meaning

To compete; to pit oneself against; to be stubborn. To engage in rivalry or refuse to back down.

Can describe competitive striving against others, or stubborn insistence on proving a point. Sometimes used for competing with oneself (自己跟自己较劲). Can have positive connotations (healthy competition) or negative ones (pointless stubbornness).

Examples

1. 两个销售冠军一直在暗中较劲。 The two sales champions have been secretly competing with each other.
2. 他这个人爱较劲，什么事都不肯认输。 He's the type who loves to compete — he refuses to admit defeat in anything.
3. 别跟自己较劲了，该放手就放手。 Stop being so hard on yourself — let go when you need to let go.

Usage Guide

Context: competition, stubbornness, everyday

Tone: competitive

Do Say

• 他们两个一直在较劲。(The two of them have been competing.)
• 何必跟他较劲呢？(Why bother competing with him?)

Don't Say

• 用'较劲'描述正式比赛 (Don't use 较劲 for formal competitions — it implies personal rivalry or stubbornness; use 比赛 or 竞争 for formal contests)

Origin & History

Composed of 较 (to compare; to compete) + 劲 (strength; energy). Together they mean competing with strength or stubbornly contending.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal