矛盾

Japanese

Kanji in this term
矛	盾

Etymology

From Middle Chinese 矛盾 (/mjuw dwonX/), literally 矛 (“lance, spear”) + 盾 (“shield”).

From an anecdote in the book Han Feizi, c. 2nd century BC, illustrating a contradiction:

楚人有鬻楯與矛者 譽之曰 吾楯之堅 莫能陷也 又譽其矛曰 吾矛 之利 於物無不陷也 或曰 以子之矛陷子之楯 何如 其人弗能應也.

There was a man in Chu who sold shields and spears. Praising the shields he said: 'My shields are so strong that nothing can pierce them.' And praising the spears he said: 'My spears are so strong that there is nothing that they cannot pierce.' A person asked: 'What if someone pierces your shields with your spears?' He could not respond.

Noun

矛盾 (hiragana むじゅん, romaji mujun)

1. a contradiction, an inconsistency, a paradox

Alternative forms

• 矛楯

Synonyms

• 撞着 (どうちゃく, dōchaku)
• 逆説 (ぎゃくせつ, gyakusetsu)
• パラドックス (paradokkusu)

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Mandarin

simpl. and trad.
矛盾

Pronunciation

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Noun

矛盾 (traditional and simplified, Pinyin máodùn)

1. contradiction, conflict
2. (logic) paradox

Adjective

矛盾 (traditional and simplified, Pinyin máodùn)

1. conflicted, vacillating between two options

   他的心里很矛盾.

   Tā de xīnlǐ hěn máodùn.

   He is feeling really conflicted inside.