All Idioms
BeginnerChinese Idiom (成语)

自相矛盾

zì xiāng máo dùn

“One's spear and shield contradict each other”

Meaning: To contradict oneself; to be self-contradictory; to have conflicting statements or actions

Character-by-Character Breakdown

zì
自
self / oneself
HSK 2
xiāng
相
mutually / each other
HSK 3
máo
矛
spear
HSK 5
dùn
盾
shield
HSK 5

The Story Behind 自相矛盾

Source:《韩非子·难一》
Period:Warring States Period (475–221 BCE)

The Spear and Shield Seller

A merchant from the state of Chu was selling both shields and spears in the marketplace.

To attract customers, he loudly praised his shields: "My shields are the strongest in the world! Nothing can pierce them!"

Then he praised his spears: "My spears are the sharpest in the world! They can pierce anything!"

A clever customer heard both claims and asked: "If your spear can pierce anything, and your shield cannot be pierced by anything, what happens when you use your spear to pierce your shield?"

The merchant was speechless. He realized that his two claims contradicted each other - if his spear could pierce anything, then his shield could be pierced; if his shield could block anything, then his spear couldn't pierce it.

The merchant's self-contradictory claims exposed the flaw in his logic.

Original Classical Chinese

楚人有鬻盾与矛者，誉之曰："吾盾之坚，物莫能陷也。"又誉其矛曰："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。

How to Use 自相矛盾

This idiom is used to describe situations where someone's statements or actions contradict each other.

It emphasizes the importance of logical consistency and warns against making conflicting claims.

The idiom is often used to point out logical flaws or inconsistencies in arguments.

When to use:
  • Use when pointing out logical contradictions in someone's statements
  • Often used to criticize inconsistent arguments or policies
  • Can be used to expose flaws in reasoning
Common Mistake

Don't use this idiom for simple disagreements or different opinions. It specifically refers to logical contradictions within the same person's statements or actions.

Example Sentences

1

他刚才说支持这个计划，现在又说反对，真是自相矛盾。

Tā gāngcái shuō zhīchí zhège jìhuà, xiànzài yòu shuō fǎnduì, zhēn shì zì xiāng máo dùn.

He just said he supported this plan, but now he says he opposes it. This is really self-contradictory.

2

你的话自相矛盾，让人无法相信。

Nǐ de huà zì xiāng máo dùn, ràng rén wúfǎ xiāngxìn.

Your words are self-contradictory and cannot be believed.

3

这个政策自相矛盾，需要重新考虑。

Zhège zhèngcè zì xiāng máo dùn, xūyào chóngxīn kǎolǜ.

This policy is self-contradictory and needs to be reconsidered.

Practice Writing

Generate a free printable worksheet with all 4 characters from this idiom.

Generate Worksheet (4 Characters)

Or explore each character:

自stroke order相stroke order矛stroke order盾stroke order

Frequently Asked Questions

What does 自相矛盾 (zì xiāng máo dùn) mean?

自相矛盾 literally means "one's spear and shield contradict each other." Figuratively, it means to contradict oneself, or to have conflicting statements or actions. It describes logical inconsistency.

What is the story behind 自相矛盾?

The idiom comes from "Han Feizi" (韩非子). A merchant claimed his shields were impenetrable and his spears could pierce anything. When asked what would happen if his spear hit his shield, he couldn't answer because the claims contradicted each other.

How do you use 自相矛盾 in a sentence?

Use 自相矛盾 when pointing out logical contradictions. For example: "他刚才说支持，现在又说反对，真是自相矛盾" (He just said he supported it, but now he says he opposes it. This is really self-contradictory).

What is the opposite of 自相矛盾?

The opposite would be idioms like 前后一致 (qián hòu yīzhì, consistent) or 逻辑严密 (luójí yánmì, logically sound), which emphasize consistency and logical coherence.

Is 自相矛盾 difficult to learn?

自相矛盾 is considered beginner-friendly. It uses relatively common characters (自 HSK2, 相 HSK3, 矛 HSK5, 盾 HSK5), has a memorable story, and the meaning is straightforward. It's one of the most commonly taught Chinese idioms.