错综复杂

錯綜複雜

cuòzōngfùzá

idiom HSK 7 #25,344

Meanings

1 intricate and complex
2 tangled and complicated
3 highly complex

Characters

interlocking; crossed

to weave; to synthesize

complex; repeated

mixed; miscellaneous

Literally 'interwoven and complex' — tangled and complicated

Examples

国际形势错综复杂。

Guójì xíngshì cuòzōngfùzá.

The international situation is highly complex.

这个案件的关系错综复杂。

Zhège ànjiàn de guānxì cuòzōngfùzá.

The relationships in this case are intricate and tangled.

Tips

usage

错综复杂 is stronger than just 复杂. It emphasizes that things are not just complicated but interwoven and tangled — often used for political situations, relationships, or investigations.

Stroke Order

错 cuò

综 zōng

复 fù

杂 zá