Chinese

前後矛盾

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ xoʊ̯⁵¹ mɑʊ̯³⁵ tu̯ən⁵¹/
inconsistent; contradictory
  • 前后矛盾

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Origin

The phrase 前後矛盾 is formed by combining four characters: 前, 後, 矛, and 盾. It is used to describe something that is inconsistent or contradictory.

The individual components of the characters include the following. The character 前 (front; forepart) contains the components 止 (foot) and 舟 (boat). The character 後 (behind; rear; back) consists of the components 幺 (tiny; minute) and 夊 (of going, slow). The remaining characters are 矛 (spear; lance) and 盾 (shield).

Confidence: high · written by gemma4:26b, checked statement-by-statement against the sources below.

Lineage

  • characterChinese前 “front; forepart”
    • ideaChinese止 “foot”
    • ideaChinese舟 “boat (Classifier: 葉／叶; 艘; 條／条; 隻／只)”
  • characterChinese後 “behind; rear; back”
    • ideaChinese幺 “tiny; minute”
    • ideaChinese夊 “of going, slow”
  • characterChinese矛 “spear; lance”
  • characterChinese盾 “shield”
Wiktionary etymology text

No etymology text yet. The graph shows what is known from the sources.

Sources