矛

máo

丿 + 龴 + 𠄐

Definitions

máo (noun) spear; lance; pike

Etymology

Pictograph of a spear-like weapon.

About

矛 is a pictograph of an ancient long-handled thrusting weapon, resembling a spear. Its strokes outline the weapon's parts: a pointed blade at the top, a small hook or tassel attachment just below it, and a long shaft extending downward. As an independent radical, it often appears in characters connected to weapons or combat. The character conveys offense and aggression, and it is best known for forming the compound 矛盾 "contradiction" when paired with 盾 "shield", a reference to the paradox of an unstoppable spear and an impenetrable shield.

Etymology Hide

Bronze Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)

Bronze Early Warring States (~400 BC)

Seal Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

矛盾无处不在。

Máo dùn wú chù bù zài.

Contradictions exist everywhere.

古代战士手持长矛作战。

Gǔdài zhànshì shǒu chí cháng máo zuòzhàn.

Ancient warriors fought holding long spears.

他的心里充满了矛盾。

Tā de xīnli chōngmǎnle máodùn.

His heart is full of inner conflict.

自卫队装备了盾牌和矛。

Zìwèi duì zhuāngbèile dùnpái hé máo.

The self-defense force is equipped with shields and spears.

讨论中暴露了双方的根本矛盾。

Tǎolùn zhōng bàolùle shuāngfāng de gēnběn máodùn.

The discussion revealed the fundamental contradiction between the two sides.

这是一种先进的理论武器，堪称思想之矛。

Zhè shì yī zhǒng xiānjìn de lǐlùn wǔqì, kān chēng sīxiǎng zhī máo.

This is an advanced theoretical weapon, worthy of being called the spear of thought.

技术进步有时会与伦理规范产生尖锐矛盾。

Jìshù jìnbù yǒushí huì yǔ lúnlǐ guīfàn chǎnshēng jiānruì máodùn.

Technological progress sometimes creates sharp contradictions with ethical norms.

他试图用逻辑之矛，攻破对方论证中的盾。

Tā shìtú yòng luójí zhī máo, gōng pò duìfāng lùnzhèng zhōng de dùn.

He tried to use the spear of logic to breach the shield within the opponent's argument.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 丿

Component: 龴

Component: 𠄐

矛