矛盾

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Contents 1 Japanese 1.1 Etymology 1.2 Noun 2 Mandarin 2.1 Noun

[edit] Japanese

Kanji in this term
矛	盾

[edit] Etymology

Literally 矛 (“‘halberd’”) + 盾 (“‘shield’”). From an antidote in 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 halberds. Praising them he said: 'My shields are so strong that nothing can pierce them.' And praising the halberds he said: 'My halberds are so strong that there is nothing that they can not pierce.' A person asked: 'What if someone pierces your shields with your halberds?' He could not respond."

[edit] Noun

矛盾 (hiragana むじゅん, romaji mujun)

1. contradiction; conflict

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[edit] Mandarin

simpl. and trad.

矛盾

[edit] Noun

矛盾 (traditional and simplified, Pinyin máodùn)

1. contradiction; conflict