矛盾

From a tale in Han Feizi [3rd century BC].

楚人有鬻盾與矛者，譽之曰：「吾盾之堅，物莫能陷之。」以譽其矛曰：「吾矛之利，於物無不陷也。」或曰：「以子之矛陷子之盾，何如？」其人弗能應也。夫不可陷之盾與無不陷之矛，不可同世而立。 [Classical Chinese, trad.][▼ expand/hide]

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楚人有鬻盾与矛者，誉之曰：“吾盾之坚，物莫能陷之。”以誉其矛曰：“吾矛之利，于物无不陷也。”或曰：“以子之矛陷子之盾，何如？”其人弗能应也。夫不可陷之盾与无不陷之矛，不可同世而立。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

Chǔ rén yǒu yù dùn yǔ máo zhě, yù zhī yuē: “Wú dùn zhī jiān, wù mò néng xiàn zhī.” Yǐ yù qí máo yuē: “Wú máo zhī lì, yú wù wú bù xiàn yě.” Huò yuē: “Yǐ zǐ zhī máo xiàn zǐ zhī dùn, hérú?” Qí rén fú néng yìng yě. Fú bùkě xiàn zhī dùn yǔ wú bù xiàn zhī máo, bùkě tóng shì ér lì. [Pinyin]

There was once a man in the state of Chu, who was selling shields and lances. He was praising them saying: “My shields are so firm, that there is nothing that can pierce them.” He praised his lances saying: “My lances are so sharp, that there is nothing that they cannot pierce.” Someone asked: “What if you used your lances to pierce your shields?” The man could not answer. A shield that cannot be pierced and a lance that can pierce everything cannot exist in the same world.

矛盾

1. contradiction; inconsistency; disagreement; incongruity

   加劇矛盾 / 加剧矛盾  ―  jiājù máodùn  ―  heightening the contradictions

2. problem; issue; conflict

   階級矛盾 / 阶级矛盾  ―  jiējí máodùn  ―  class conflict

3. (logic) paradox

矛盾

1. conflicted; vacillating between two options

   他的心裡很矛盾。 / 他的心里很矛盾。  ―  Tā de xīnli hěn máodùn.  ―  He is feeling really conflicted.

• 矛楯

From Middle Chinese 矛盾 (MC mɨu ʑiuɪn^X), literally 矛 (“lance, spear”) + 盾 (“shield”). See the Chinese etymology section for the full derivation.

• On’yomi: Goon
  • (Tokyo) むじゅん [mùjúń] (Heiban – [0])[1]
  • IPA^(key): [mɯ̟ᵝʑɨ̃ᵝɴ]

矛盾 (hiragana むじゅん, rōmaji mujun)

1. a contradiction, an inconsistency, a paradox

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

矛盾する (suru conjugation, hiragana むじゅんする, rōmaji mujun suru)

1. to be inconsistent, to be in contradiction, to be incompatible with

   彼 (かれ)が今日主張 (きょうしゅちょう)する内容 (ないよう)は昨日 (き)の行動 (うのこうどう)と矛盾 (むじゅん)している。

   Kare ga kyō shuchō suru naiyō wa kinō no kōdō to mujun shite iru.

   What he's going on about today isn't compatible with his behavior yesterday. → What he's saying today doesn't jive with what he did yesterday.

矛盾 • (mosun) (hangeul 모순)

1. Hanja form^? of 모순 (“contradiction”).

矛盾

1. Hán tự form of mâu thuẫn (“contradiction”).