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较量 (jiào liàng) — to compete with, to measure oneself against; to haggle, to quibble (less common)

Definition

较量 (jiào liàng) means to measure yourself against someone, often in skill or strength. Stronger and more confrontational than 竞赛 (a formal contest) and 较劲 (stubborn pushing); 计较 is more about haggling over small matters.

verb
to compete withto measure oneself againstto haggleto quibble (less common)

Examples

  • 较量。
    Zhè liǎng zhī qiú duì jiāng zài jué sài zhōng jiào liàng.
    These two teams will compete in the final.
  • 较量？
    Nǐ gǎn gēn wǒ jiào liàng yí xià qí yì ma?
    Do you dare to compete with me in chess skills?
  • 较量。
    Bié wèi zhè diǎn xiǎo shì gēn tā jiào liàng le.
    Don't quibble with him over such a small matter.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

较jiàocompare
量liángmeasure

较 and 量 both convey comparing or measuring, so together they mean to pit oneself against another.

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 較; 较 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
車車jūvehicle
Sound part声符shēngfú
交
交jiāo較jiào
Same sound today

In the traditional form 較, 車 (vehicle) gives the sense and 交 gives the sound; the simplified 较 is a later abbreviation.

Open 较 →

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

  • 日日rìsun
  • 東東dōngbag; east

量 has 日 (sun) over 東 (bag; east). Some explanations suggest measuring under the sun or the sun rising in the east, but the exact origin is unclear.

Open 量 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9HSK 2.0 Level 6Conflict & Agreement

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