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自相矛盾 (zì xiāng máo dùn) — self-contradictory; contradictory in one's own statements or actions

Definition

A chengyu describing words or actions that clash with each other within the SAME statement or stance — literal "spear vs. shield," like the ancient parable. Unlike 不符 (mismatch between two things), it points to internal contradiction in one source.

phrase
self-contradictorycontradictory in one's own statements or actions

Examples

  • 自相矛盾，？
    Nǐ gāng cái shuō de huà qián hòu zì xiāng máo dùn, dào dǐ nǎ ge shì zhēn de?
    What you just said is self-contradictory — which part is true?
  • 自相矛盾，。
    Zhè piān lùn wén de guān diǎn zì xiāng máo dùn, quē fá yán jǐn de luó ji.
    The viewpoint in this paper is self-contradictory and lacks rigorous logic.
  • 自相矛盾，。
    Tā de xíng wéi zì xiāng máo dùn, yì biān tí chàng huán bǎo yì biān dà liàng shǐ yòng sù liào.
    His behavior is contradictory — promoting environmental protection while using lots of plastic.

Origin

Characters in this word

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

假借jiǎjièLater borrowed for its sound alone — the picture has nothing to do with today’s meaning.

自 originally drew a nose. It was borrowed purely for its sound to write 自, so the picture and the meaning are unrelated.

Open 自 →

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

In 相, 目 is an eye and 木 is a tree, showing an eye looking at a tree; this originally meant “to observe.”

Open 相 →

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 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Conflict & AgreementIdioms & Set Phrases

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