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| 争议 [2025/08/11 08:21] – created xiaoer | 争议 [Unknown date] (current) – removed - external edit (Unknown date) 127.0.0.1 |
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| ====== zhēngyì: 争议 - Controversy, Dispute ====== | |
| ===== Quick Summary ===== | |
| * **Keywords:** zhengyi, 争议, Chinese for controversy, dispute in Chinese, Chinese word for debate, controversial topic, what does zhengyi mean, how to use 争议, public disagreement, zhenglun, bianlun. | |
| * **Summary:** Learn the essential Chinese word **争议 (zhēngyì)**, which means "controversy" or "dispute." This page breaks down its meaning, cultural significance, and practical use. Discover how **争议 (zhēngyì)** differs from a simple argument and why it's a key term for understanding public discourse, news, and social issues in China. With 10 practical example sentences, you'll master how to discuss any controversial topic. | |
| ===== Core Meaning ===== | |
| * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** zhēngyì | |
| * **Part of Speech:** Noun (primarily), Verb (less common) | |
| * **HSK Level:** HSK 5 | |
| * **Concise Definition:** A public disagreement, dispute, or controversy over a contentious issue. | |
| * **In a Nutshell:** Think beyond a simple argument between two people. **争议 (zhēngyì)** refers to a larger-scale, often public, disagreement involving multiple viewpoints on a significant topic. It's the word you'd use for political debates, historical disagreements, or major social issues discussed in the news. It carries a weight of seriousness and public importance. | |
| ===== Character Breakdown ===== | |
| * **争 (zhēng):** This character depicts striving or contending. Its ancient form shows two hands vying for a single object. It carries the core meaning of "to compete," "to contend," or "to fight for." | |
| * **议 (yì):** This character is composed of the "speech" radical **言 (yán)** and **义 (yì)**, which means "righteousness" or "meaning." Together, **议 (yì)** means "to discuss," "to deliberate," or "to debate," often with the goal of reaching a correct or just conclusion. | |
| When combined, **争议 (zhēngyì)** literally means "to contend through discussion." This perfectly captures the modern meaning of a "controversy"—a situation where different parties use arguments and debate to contend for their position on an issue. | |
| ===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== | |
| In many Western cultures, open debate and controversy can be viewed as a healthy and necessary part of a functioning society—a way to challenge ideas and arrive at a better truth. While debate certainly exists in China, the concept of **争议 (zhēngyì)** is often viewed through the cultural lens of **[[和谐]] (héxié) - harmony**. | |
| A public **争议 (zhēngyì)** can be seen as a disruption of social harmony and a sign of friction. The ideal is often to find consensus and maintain a smooth social fabric. Therefore, a matter described as having **争议 (zhēngyì)** is implicitly a significant problem that needs to be resolved, rather than a celebrated feature of public life. This doesn't mean disagreement is suppressed, but that there is often a cultural preference for resolving it privately or through mediation to avoid large-scale, public contention. This makes the word **争议 (zhēngyì)** feel more serious and weighty than the English "controversy" might in some contexts. | |
| ===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== | |
| **争议 (zhēngyì)** is a formal and neutral-to-slightly-negative term. You will encounter it most frequently in written Chinese and formal discussions. | |
| * **In the News and Academia:** This is its most common habitat. News reports, academic papers, and political analyses use **争议** to describe disputes over policy, history, science, or law. For example, `历史**争议**` (historical controversy) or `领土**争议**` (territorial dispute). | |
| * **On Social Media:** When a topic explodes on Weibo and divides public opinion, it is often described as `引发**争议**` (sparking controversy). Even in this informal setting, the word retains its serious tone. | |
| * **As a Verb:** While much less common than its noun form, it can be used as a verb meaning "to dispute." However, for the action of arguing, **[[争论]] (zhēnglùn)** is far more common. | |
| ===== Example Sentences ===== | |
| * **Example 1:** | |
| * 这个决定在公司内部引起了很大的**争议**。 | |
| * Pinyin: Zhège juédìng zài gōngsī nèibù yǐnqǐle hěn dà de **zhēngyì**. | |
| * English: This decision caused a great deal of controversy within the company. | |
| * Analysis: A classic structure: `引起争议` (yǐnqǐ zhēngyì) means "to cause/arouse controversy." | |
| * **Example 2:** | |
| * 他是一个很有**争议**的历史人物。 | |
| * Pinyin: Tā shì yí ge hěn yǒu **zhēngyì** de lìshǐ rénwù. | |
| * English: He is a very controversial historical figure. | |
| * Analysis: The phrase `有争议的` (yǒu zhēngyì de) is the standard way to say "controversial." | |
| * **Example 3:** | |
| * 关于这项新法律，主要的**争议**点在于它的公平性。 | |
| * Pinyin: Guānyú zhè xiàng xīn fǎlǜ, zhǔyào de **zhēngyì** diǎn zàiyú tā de gōngpíng xìng. | |
| * English: Regarding this new law, the main point of controversy lies in its fairness. | |
| * Analysis: `争议点` (zhēngyì diǎn) literally means "controversy point" and is a great way to specify the core of the disagreement. | |
| * **Example 4:** | |
| * 转基因食品的安全性至今仍存在**争议**。 | |
| * Pinyin: Zhuǎnjīyīn shípǐn de ānquán xìng zhìjīn réng cúnzài **zhēngyì**. | |
| * English: The safety of genetically modified food remains controversial to this day. | |
| * Analysis: `存在争议` (cúnzài zhēngyì) means "controversy exists." It's a formal and common way to state that an issue is unsettled. | |
| * **Example 5:** | |
| * 对于这个问题的看法，我们之间没有**争议**。 | |
| * Pinyin: Duìyú zhège wèntí de kànfǎ, wǒmen zhījiān méiyǒu **zhēngyì**. | |
| * English: There is no dispute between us regarding our view on this problem. | |
| * Analysis: This shows the negative form, `没有争议`, meaning "no dispute" or "uncontroversial." | |
| * **Example 6:** | |
| * 两国试图通过谈判来解决领土**争议**。 | |
| * Pinyin: Liǎng guó shìtú tōngguò tánpàn lái jiějué lǐngtǔ **zhēngyì**. | |
| * English: The two countries are trying to resolve the territorial dispute through negotiations. | |
| * Analysis: `解决争议` (jiějué zhēngyì) means "to resolve a dispute/controversy." This is a key phrase in diplomacy and law. | |
| * **Example 7:** | |
| * 这部电影的情节充满了**争议**，观众的评价两极分化。 | |
| * Pinyin: Zhè bù diànyǐng de qíngjié chōngmǎnle **zhēngyì**, guānzhòng de píngjià liǎngjí fēnhuà. | |
| * English: The plot of this movie is full of controversy, and audience reviews are polarized. | |
| * Analysis: `充满了争议` (chōngmǎnle zhēngyì) is a vivid way to say "is full of controversy." | |
| * **Example 8:** | |
| * 他的言论在网上掀起了轩然大波，成为了**争议**的焦点。 | |
| * Pinyin: Tā de yánlùn zài wǎngshàng xiānqǐle xuānrándàbō, chéngwéile **zhēngyì** de jiāodiǎn. | |
| * English: His comments caused a huge uproar online, becoming the focus of the controversy. | |
| * Analysis: `争议的焦点` (zhēngyì de jiāodiǎn) means "the focal point of the controversy." | |
| * **Example 9:** | |
| * 毫无**争议**，他是我们队里最好的球员。 | |
| * Pinyin: Háo wú **zhēngyì**, tā shì wǒmen duì lǐ zuì hǎo de qiúyuán. | |
| * English: Unquestionably, he is the best player on our team. | |
| * Analysis: `毫无争议` (háo wú zhēngyì) is a strong phrase meaning "without any dispute" or "unquestionably." It's used to assert something as a clear fact. | |
| * **Example 10:** | |
| * 法官要求双方就**争议**问题提供更多证据。 | |
| * Pinyin: Fǎguān yāoqiú shuāngfāng jiù **zhēngyì** wèntí tígōng gèng duō zhèngjù. | |
| * English: The judge asked both parties to provide more evidence on the disputed issue. | |
| * Analysis: `争议问题` (zhēngyì wèntí) is a common collocation for "disputed issue" or "contentious matter," especially in legal or formal contexts. | |
| ===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== | |
| * **`争议 (zhēngyì)` vs. `吵架 (chǎojià)`:** This is the most critical distinction for beginners. **争议** is a formal, issue-based disagreement. **[[吵架]] (chǎojià)** is a personal, emotional, and often loud quarrel. You have a **争议** about government policy; you have a **吵架** with your roommate about whose turn it is to do the dishes. | |
| * **Incorrect:** 我们昨天为晚饭**争议**了。(Wǒmen zuótiān wèi wǎnfàn zhēngyì le.) - //This sounds absurdly formal.// | |
| * **Correct:** 我们昨天为晚饭**吵架**了。(Wǒmen zuótiān wèi wǎnfàn chǎojià le.) | |
| * **`争议 (zhēngyì)` vs. `辩论 (biànlùn)`:** A **[[辩论]] (biànlùn)** is a structured event, like a school competition or a televised political debate. **争议 (zhēngyì)** is the *state* of widespread disagreement that might *prompt* a **辩论**. A controversy is the fire; a debate is an organized attempt to handle the smoke. | |
| * **Don't overuse it for simple disagreements:** If you and a friend just have different opinions (`不同意见 bùtóng yìjiàn`) or a divergence of views (`分歧 fēnqí`), using **争议** would be overkill. Reserve it for significant, contentious issues. | |
| ===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== | |
| * [[争论]] (zhēnglùn) - To argue; argument (noun). The direct action associated with a **争议**. More focused on the act of debating itself. | |
| * [[分歧]] (fēnqí) - A difference of opinion; divergence. A milder term for disagreement, often used in diplomacy or business before a situation escalates to a full **争议**. | |
| * [[矛盾]] (máodùn) - Contradiction; conflict. Can refer to a conflict between people, ideas, or even within oneself. It often implies a deeper, more fundamental incompatibility. | |
| * [[冲突]] (chōngtū) - Conflict; clash. A stronger word than **争议**, often implying a more direct and sometimes physical confrontation. | |
| * [[辩论]] (biànlùn) - To debate; a formal debate. An organized event to discuss a topic from opposing sides. | |
| * [[异议]] (yìyì) - Objection; dissent. A formal expression of disagreement, as in "I object!" (`我反对!` or `我有异议!`). | |
| * [[和谐]] (héxié) - Harmony. The cultural ideal that a public **争议** is often seen as disrupting. | |
| * [[话题]] (huàtí) - Topic (of conversation). A controversy is often centered on a `有争议的话题` (a controversial topic). | |