歪理

wāilǐ
noun #32,603

Meanings

  1. 1 fallacious reasoning
  2. 2 twisted logic
  3. 3 preposterous argument

Examples

HSK 7-9
Bié ná zhèzhǒng wāilǐ lái húnòng wǒ.
Don't try to fob me off with this kind of twisted logic.
HSK 7-9
Tā zǒng néng zhǎodào yī tào wāilǐ wèi zìjǐ biànhù.
He can always come up with some twisted reasoning to defend himself.

Tips

memory
歪 = 不 (not) + 正 (upright) - literally 'not straight,' i.e. 'crooked.' Plus 理 (logic/reason) gives 'crooked logic' = a bad argument that sounds plausible.
usage
Common collocations: 歪理邪说 (twisted logic and heretical talk - a stronger phrase used to denounce dangerous reasoning), 一套歪理 (a whole package of bad reasoning).

Stroke Order

歪 wāi
理 lǐ