歪理

wāilǐ
noun #32,603

Meanings

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

Examples

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

Tips

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

Stroke Order

wāi