Definition
对簿公堂 is a formal four-character idiom (成语) meaning 'to confront each other in court' — i.e. to take a legal dispute to trial. Its literal image is 'facing the written complaint in the courtroom'. It's used in legal or journalistic contexts when parties settle a disagreement through litigation rather than mediation. You won't hear it in daily conversation; it belongs to formal written Chinese (新闻报道, 法律文书).
f.e.
to confront in courtto file a lawsuit and face a legal trial
Examples
- 对簿公堂。Zhè jiā gōngsī yīn hétong jiūfēn yǔ gōnghuòshāng duì bù gōng táng.This company confronted its supplier in court over a contract dispute.
- ，对簿公堂。Shuāngfāng jùjué tiáojiě, zuìzhōng xuǎnzé duì bù gōng táng.Both sides refused mediation and ultimately chose to settle the matter in court.
- 对簿公堂。Nà qǐ míngyù qīnquán àn ràng liǎng wèi míngrén duì bù gōng táng.That defamation case brought two celebrities face to face in court.
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