duàn断cutzhāng章chapterqǔ取takeyì义meaning
To quote out of context; to take something out of context.
Literal meaning
cut (断) — chapter (章) — take (取) — meaning (义)
Origin
A classical four-character phrase.
Examples
Tā他duàn断zhāng章qǔ取yì义，wāi歪qū曲le了wǒ我de的yì意si思。
He quoted out of context and distorted my meaning.
Wǒ我men们yīng应gāi该wán完zhěng整de地lǐ理jiě解yuán原wén文，bù不yào要duàn断zhāng章qǔ取yì义。
We should understand the original text completely, and not quote out of context.
Usage & nuances
Negative connotation; implies a deliberate attempt to misrepresent someone's words or ideas.
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