强词夺理

強詞奪理

qiǎngcí-duólǐ

idiom #32,313

Meanings

1 to use lame arguments to argue one's case
2 to twist logic in a debate
3 to insist on an unreasonable point

Characters

forced; insistent

words; argument

Examples

HSK 4

他总是强词夺理，让人没法和他讨论。

Tā zǒngshì qiǎngcí-duólǐ, ràng rén méifǎ hé tā tǎolùn.

He always argues unreasonably, making it impossible to discuss anything with him.

HSK 4

别强词夺理了，承认错误吧。

Bié qiǎngcí-duólǐ le, chéngrèn cuòwù ba.

Stop twisting the argument and just admit your mistake.

HSK 5

你明明错了，还在强词夺理。

Nǐ míngmíng cuò le, hái zài qiǎngcí-duólǐ.

You're clearly wrong but still twisting the logic.

Tips

history

From Luo Guanzhong's 《三国演义》 (Romance of the Three Kingdoms), chapter 43: a character accuses Zhuge Liang of 强词夺理 during a debate - 'all sophistry, not proper reasoning.'

Stroke Order

强 qiáng

词 cí

夺 duó

理 lǐ