山
海Shanhai StoryChinese stories for learners
Saved words
Menu
Stories/Chinese folklore/The Spear and the Shield
HSK 3 Chinese reading practice

自相矛盾

zì xiāng máo dùn

The Spear and the Shield

A merchant claims that his spear can pierce anything and his shield can stop anything—until one question leaves him speechless.

RECOMMENDEDHSK 3
READ4 min
HANZI158
Reading tools
Text size
文化
CULTURE

Two claims that cannot both be true

The story behind 自相矛盾 appears in the ancient text Han Feizi. Today the idiom describes words, ideas, or actions that contradict one another.

Key vocabulary9 words from this story
Open vocabulary →
故事讲完了

You finished the story.

Keep the words you want, then choose another story when you are ready.