矛盾(むじゅん)

むじゅん
noun
contradiction; inconsistency
1. contradiction; inconsistency
A situation in which two or more facts, ideas, or statements cannot all be true or valid at the same time.
彼(かれ)の話(はなし)には矛盾(むじゅん)がある。
There are contradictions in his story.
理論(りろん)と現実(げんじつ)が矛盾(むじゅん)している。
Theory and reality are contradictory.
矛盾(むじゅん)を解消(かいしょう)する。
To resolve a contradiction.

矛盾(むじゅん) comes from a Chinese story about a man selling both a spear (矛(ほこ)) and a shield (盾(たて)), claiming each was invincible.

Etymology: A merchant claimed his spear could pierce any shield, and his shield could block any spear. Someone asked what would happen if his spear struck his shield - exposing the contradiction.

Common patterns

Related Words

Antonym: 調和(ちょうわ) (harmony)
Related: 対立(たいりつ) (confrontation, opposition)
Compare: 食(く)い違(ちが)い (discrepancy, disagreement)
Compare: 不一致(ふいっち) (discrepancy)
Related: 逆説的(ぎゃくせつてき) (paradoxical)
Compare: 非合理(ひごうり) (irrationality)
Compare: 非論理的(ひろんりてき) (illogical)
Compare: 相反(あいはん) (contradiction)
Compare: 整合(せいごう) (consistency)
general
Added 2026.1.16 12:30 · Revised 2026.9.2 12:02
05000/05215_mujun