Usage note
矛盾表示两边不一致，也表示冲突。
máo dùn biǎo shì liǎng biān bù yí zhì， yě biǎo shì chōng tū。
矛盾 means inconsistency or conflict.
Context note
矛盾常用于问题、想法和关系。
máo dùn cháng yòng yú wèn tí 、 xiǎng fǎ hé guān xì。
It is often used with problems, ideas, and relationships.
5 examples
这个说法有矛盾。
zhè ge shuō fǎ yǒu máo dùn。
This statement is contradictory.
他们之间有矛盾。
tā men zhī jiān yǒu máo dùn。
There is conflict between them.
前后矛盾。
qián hòu máo dùn。
Inconsistent front and back.
不要产生矛盾。
bú yào chǎn shēng máo dùn。
Do not create conflict.
老师帮我们找矛盾。
lǎo shī bāng wǒ men zhǎo máo dùn。
The teacher helped us find the contradiction.
5 mini stories
老师说，读文章要找矛盾。
lǎo shī shuō， dú wén zhāng yào zhǎo máo dùn。
The teacher said to look for contradictions when reading.
他们之间的矛盾慢慢解决了。
tā men zhī jiān de máo dùn màn màn jiě jué le。
The conflict between them was gradually resolved.
这个答案和前面有点矛盾。
zhè ge dá àn hé qián miàn yǒu diǎn máo dùn。
This answer is a bit contradictory to the previous one.
矛盾不一定是坏事，但要解决。
máo dùn bù yí dìng shì huài shì， dàn yào jiě jué。
Contradictions are not necessarily bad, but they need to be resolved.
他不想让小问题变成大矛盾。
tā bù xiǎng ràng xiǎo wèn tí biàn chéng dà máo dùn。
He did not want small problems to become big conflicts.
Mini dialogue
Choosing a Gift
A
我想给妈妈买礼物，但是不知道买什么，真矛盾。
Wǒ xiǎng gěi māma mǎi lǐwù, dànshì bù zhīdào mǎi shénme, zhēn máodùn.
I want to buy a gift for Mom, but I don't know what to buy. It's a real contradiction.
B
别矛盾了，她喜欢花，买一束花吧。
Bié máodùn le, tā xǐhuān huā, mǎi yī shù huā ba.
Don't be conflicted. She likes flowers. Buy a bouquet.
Weekend Plans
A
我又想出去玩，又想在家看书，心里很矛盾。
Wǒ yòu xiǎng chūqù wán, yòu xiǎng zài jiā kàn shū, xīnlǐ hěn máodùn.
I want to go out and play, but I also want to read at home. I feel very conflicted.
B
你可以上午看书，下午出去玩，这样就不矛盾了。
Nǐ kěyǐ shàngwǔ kàn shū, xiàwǔ chūqù wán, zhèyàng jiù bù máodùn le.
You can read in the morning and play in the afternoon. Then there's no contradiction.
Related words and contrasts
similar
冲突
chōng tū
conflict
冲突 refers to a clash or conflict, often more intense than 矛盾, which can be a logical contradiction or interpersonal friction.
opposite
一致
yī zhì
consistent; unanimous
一致 means agreement or consistency, the opposite of 矛盾.
opposite
和谐
hé xié
harmony
和谐 means harmony, the opposite of contradiction or conflict.