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争执 (zhēng zhí) — to argue; to dispute; to wrangle

Definition

争执 (zhēngzhí) is a relatively formal verb for a sustained dispute, often with the sense that the disagreement is unresolved or ongoing. It is more formal and drawn-out than 争吵, which is quicker, louder, and more colloquial.

verb
to argueto disputeto wrangle

Examples

  • 争执。
    Tā men wèi le qián de wèn tí zhēng zhí le hǎo jǐ gè xiǎo shí.
    They argued for several hours over money issues.
  • 争执。
    Zhè chǎng zhēng zhí zuì zhōng tōng guò tiáo jiě jiě jué le.
    This dispute was finally resolved through mediation.
  • 争执，。
    Wǒ bù xiǎng yīn wèi xiǎo shì zhēng zhí, suǒ yǐ ràng bù le.
    I didn't want to argue over trivial matters, so I gave in.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

争zhēngcontend
执zhíinsist

争执 combines 争, to contend, with 执, to insist, so it means arguing stubbornly.

Characters in this word

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 爭; 争 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 爭 shows two hands on a plowshare; the simplified 争 is a later abbreviation, so this picture belongs to 爭, not 争.

Open 争 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 執; 执 is its simplified writing.

  • 㚔㚔㚔criminal / handcuffs
  • 丮丮jǐhand

The traditional form 執 shows 㚔, a handcuffed criminal, with 丮, a hand, giving the idea of arrest. The simplified 执 is a later shorthand, so its current parts are not the original pieces.

Open 执 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Conflict & Agreement

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