stultify oneself(zì xiāng máo dùn)

stultify oneself

Paradoxically, in Chinese idioms, Pinyin is Z ì Xi ā NGM á OD ù n. It refers to the conflict between what others say and what they do. From Han Feizi, difficult one.

The paradox comes from Han Feizi Nanyi, which tells that there is a man in the state of Chu who sells spears and shields. He says that his shield is very strong and can't be pierced with any spear. He says that his spear is very sharp and can be pierced with any shield. One of the onlookers asked, "what happens when you stab your own shield with your own spear?" This person has no answer. Later used to describe others or their own behavior or speech before and after the inconsistency, also refers to incoherent character or mood. Later, it is used as a metaphor to describe the conflict and incongruity between people's language and action.

Idiom explanation

Spear: stab weapon to attack enemy; shield: shield to protect oneself. It refers to the conflict between what you say and what you do.

Idiom usage

The subject predicate type is used as predicate and attributive. It can't be used for more than two parties, it can only be used for unilateral self conflict. Idiom usage

Examples

Mao Zedong's on protracted war: "it's not self contradictory to fight bravely in the front and give up land in the back.". < li > < li > "Zizhitongjian · the second year of Taiqing Dynasty of Emperor Wu of Liang Dynasty": "today's two palaces are in danger, cunning bandits are fierce, and ministers should work together. How can they contradict each other?"

The origin of Idioms

Han Feizi, difficult one: "the Chu people who have shield and spear are praised as saying:" the strength of our shield is that nothing can be trapped. " He also praised his spear and said, "the advantage of my spear is that it will sink everything." Or: "how can we use a son's spear to trap a son's shield? It's the same with people. A man's shield and spear can't stand together.

Idioms and allusions

The original text is from Han Feizi, difficult one: Chu people have shield and spear, which is praised as "my shield is strong, things can not be trapped." He also praised his spear and said, "the advantage of my spear is that it will sink into everything." Or say: "with the spear of the son to sink the shield of the son, how?" It's the same with people. A man's shield and spear can't stand together. People of Chu: people of the state of Chu. 鬻 (Y ù): sell. Yu: praise. It means boasting and boasting. sink: Pierce, which means "Penetrate" and "pierce". Sharp: sharp. Some people, others use. F: No. should: answer. F ú: at the beginning of the sentence, it means to make a comment. In the Warring States period, there was a man selling spears and shields in the state of Chu. He first boasted that his shield was very hard and said, "nothing can destroy it!" Then he boasted of the sharpness of his spear and said, "anything can be destroyed by it!" People in the market asked him, "if you stab your shield with your spear, what will they do?" The man couldn't answer. People laughed at him. A shield that cannot be pierced and a spear that can pierce all shields cannot exist together.

Reveal the truth

It is impossible to have an unbreakable shield and an invincible spear together in the world. This Chu man exaggerates the role of spear and shield unilaterally, resulting in a situation that cannot be justified. It refers to the conflict between speaking and doing. Think twice before you act.

Chinese PinYin : zì xiāng máo dùn