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冲突 (chōng tū) — to conflict, to clash

Definition

冲突 covers conflict broadly — opinions, interests, schedules, or values clashing (often abstract). 碰撞 is more physical or surface-level, 抵触 emphasizes contradiction. 争论 is the verbal act of arguing.

verb
to conflictto clash

Examples

  • 冲突。
    Zhè liǎng zhǒng yán sè zài yì qǐ chōng tū.
    These two colors clash with each other.
  • 冲突。
    Tā de yì jiàn hé wǒ de chōng tū.
    His opinion conflicts with mine.
  • 冲突，。
    Shí jiān ān pái chōng tū le, bù néng tóng shí cān jiā.
    The schedule clashes, so I can't attend both at the same time.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

冲chōngclash
突tūthrust

“冲” conveys clashing or rushing, and “突” conveys bursting or thrusting, forming opposing forces colliding.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 衝; 冲 is its simplified writing.

The simplified 冲 stands for more than one traditional character. In most words (冲, 冲动) it is 衝; in others (冲) it is 沖.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
行行xíng
Sound part声符shēngfú
重
重zhòng衝chōng
Same sound today

The traditional form 衝 shows 重 inside 行, with 行 as the meaning part and 重 as the sound part; the simplified 冲 is a later shorthand.

Open 冲 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

突 shows 犬 (dog) under 穴 (cave; den), as a dog suddenly coming out of a den.

Open 突 →
Appears in
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