(xiáo) - To argue sophistically & to dispute with clever but misleading arguments

Tone 2

xiáo | 15 strokes | radical:

· xiáo

To argue sophistically;

to dispute with clever but misleading arguments;

to engage in contentious debate.

To argue sophisticallyto dispute with clever but misleading argumentsto engage in contentious debate.

Usage highlights

sophistical argumentcontentious debatedisputatious speechclever but misleading reasoningverbal contentionsophistical scholar

Synonyms

  • to debate; argue
  • to dispute; litigate
  • to contend; dispute

Antonyms

  • harmony; peace
  • harmonious; concordant

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He was known for his ability to argue sophistically (誵辩).
  • The philosophers engaged in clever disputation (誵论).
  • She avoided those who would dispute contentiously (誵争).

Collocations

  • sophistical argument(誵辩)
  • contentious debate(誵论)
  • disputatious speech(誵言)
  • clever but misleading reasoning(誵理)
  • verbal contention(誵争)
  • sophistical scholar(誵士)

Idioms

  • To argue with sophistry and deception(誵言诡辩)
  • Engaging in contentious debate without substance(空誵无实)
  • Sophistical arguments that confuse right and wrong(誵乱是非)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Appears in classical Chinese texts describing disputatious or sophistical argumentation.
  • Reflects traditional Chinese philosophical concerns about proper reasoning and debate.
  • Often carries negative connotations of misleading or deceptive argumentation.

FAQ