What is Zi Xiang Mao Dun? 自相矛盾 (4-character sayings) ｜ Learn Chinese Now

In this episode Ben introduces the 4-character Mandarin Chinese saying Zi Xiang Mao Dun. We look at the story behind this idiom.

This phrase can be used when someone appears to contradict them self and is a common Chinese phrase.

That means to contradict oneself and there's a story behind it.

So, in the Warring States Period, in the state of Chu, there's this guy and he was selling shields and spears.

He claimed his shields what un unpierceble. "My shields are so sturdy, nothing can pierce them."

Yet this guy also claimed that his spears could pierce through anything: "My spears are so sharp, there is nothing they cannot peire through."

Sounds like we are seeing the problem here.

Yeah sounds like when there is an cowboy sales when he come to my door trying to sell me supposedly unburnable ironing board covers that didn't count that my garment Blaster 9000 burn a hole right through.

Anyway back to the story. The people of Chu figure it out to and someone said to him: "Chiniese?" -

What would happen if he used his own spear to peirce his own shield?

Neither a salesman nor anyone else can respond to this question and that's the phrase Zì xiāng máodùn was created.
Zì xiāng means mutually.

The character máo means spear and dùn means shield
The two characters together have come to mean conflicted.

So Zì xiāng máodùn means mutually conflicted or neutrally contradicting. So how can we use this?

Well when politicians say this: I will lower taxes for everyone and increase overall public spending. --> Zì xiāng máodùn

Or when your mom says this: you the best son in the world Ben, but you're not as good as Mr. Jones's son. --> Zì xiāng máodùn

Or China's state-run propaganda media says this: China's state-run media will serve the Communist Party and provide the people with the information they need --> Zì xiāng máodùn

So there you have it. Don't forget subscribe to our channel for more use for Chinese phrases every week.

You can also check out some of our other videos right here.