Definition
强词夺理 is a four-character idiom (成语) meaning 'to resort to sophistry' — to argue with specious reasoning when you know you're wrong, twisting words to avoid admitting defeat. The literal reading ('force words, seize reason') hints at the idea, but the actual usage always carries a negative judgment: someone is being stubborn and dishonest in an argument.
f.e.
to resort to sophistryto argue irrationally using specious arguments
Examples
- ,强词夺理。Tā míngmíng cuò le, què hái zài nàlǐ qiǎng cí duó lǐ.He is clearly wrong, yet he is still there resorting to sophistry.
- ,强词夺理。Zài biànlùn zhōng, qiǎng cí duó lǐ zhǐ huì ràng rén fǎngǎn.In a debate, resorting to sophistry only makes people dislike you.
- 强词夺理,。Nǐ bú yào qiǎng cí duó lǐ le, chéngrèn cuòwù ba.Don't resort to sophistry anymore; admit your mistake.
Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.