争执

• Pinyin: zhēng zhí
• Hanzi breakdown: 争 = 爫 + 彐 (contend); 执 = 扌+ 丸 (hold/grasp firmly)

Meaning

To dispute; to argue over a point. A verbal disagreement where each side insists on their position.

More restrained than 争吵 (quarrel) but more pointed than 争论 (debate). Often implies stubbornness on both sides. Common in contexts of differing opinions on facts, principles, or decisions.

Examples

1. 双方就合同条款争执不下，谈判陷入僵局。 The two sides couldn’t agree on the contract terms, and negotiations hit a deadlock.
2. 她不想在这个问题上与同事发生无谓的争执。 She didn’t want to get into a pointless dispute with her colleagues over this issue.
3. 历史学家们至今仍在争执这一事件的真相。 Historians still dispute the truth of what happened in that event.

Usage Guide

Context: discussion, negotiation, academic

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 他们为这个技术方案的可行性争执了很久。(They disputed for a long time over the feasibility of this technical plan.)
• 没必要为小事争执，各退一步海阔天空。(There is no need to dispute over small matters — each side giving a little leads to harmony.)

Don't Say

• 我们争执出一个结论 — 争执 emphasises disagreement, not resolution; use 讨论出 or 得出 for reaching a conclusion

Origin & History

争 (contend) + 执 (hold firmly) — both sides holding firmly to their positions

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal