主要矛盾 (zhǔ yào máo dùn) — principal contradiction (the dominant social contradiction in Marxist dialectics)

Definition

A Marxist term for the dominant contradiction in a society at a given stage — the one that shapes policy and historical change, as distinct from secondary ones.

noun
principal contradiction (the dominant social contradiction in Marxist dialectics)

Examples

  • 主要矛盾。
    Rèn qīng dāng qián shè huì de zhǔ yào máo dùn shì zhì dìng zhèng cè de jī chǔ.
    Recognizing the principal contradiction of current society is the basis for policy-making.
  • ，主要矛盾。
    Zhè ge lǐ lùn rèn wéi, zhǔ yào máo dùn de biàn huà huì tuī dòng shè huì jìn bù.
    This theory holds that changes in the principal contradiction drive social progress.
  • ，主要矛盾。
    Zài zhé xué kè shàng, lǎo shī yòng zhǔ yào máo dùn de gài niàn fēn xī le lì shǐ fā zhǎn.
    In philosophy class, the teacher used the concept of principal contradiction to analyze historical development.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

主要principal
主zhǔprincipal要yàoimportant
联合Side by side
矛盾contradiction
矛máospear盾dùnshield
联合Side by side

主 gives principal, 要 gives important, and 矛 and 盾 give contradiction.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The old forms that became 主 showed a lamp or torch with a flame at the top; other forms showed wood on fire or a spirit tablet.

Open 主 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

要 began as a drawing of a person with both hands pointing to the waist.

Open 要 →

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 矛 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

盾 originally drew a shield, so the shape is a picture of that object.

Open 盾 →

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.