zì自selfxiāng相mutuallymáo矛speardùn盾shield
Contradicting oneself — like the man who sold both an unbreakable shield and an unstoppable spear.
Literal meaning
self (自) — mutually (相) — spear (矛) — shield (盾)
Origin
Han Feizi (《韩非子·难一》). A merchant in the state of Chu sold both an "unbreakable shield" and an "anything-piercing spear." A bystander asked: what happens if you stab your shield with your spear? The merchant had no answer. From this comes the Chinese word for "contradiction" (矛盾, literally spear-and-shield) and the idiom.
Examples
Tā他de的huà话qián前hòu后zì自xiāng相máo矛dùn盾。
His statements contradict each other.
Zhè这ge个lùn论diǎn点zì自xiāng相máo矛dùn盾。
This argument is self-contradictory.
Usage & nuances
Common everyday idiom. Used in arguments, journalism, philosophy — anywhere internal contradiction needs flagging.
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