Chinese word

僵局

Pronunciation

Pinyinjiāng jú

Meaning

  • noundeadlock

Example

谈判双方都认为僵局难以打破。tán pàn shuāng fāng dōu rèn wéi jiāng jú nán yǐ dǎ pò

Both parties to the negotiations believe that breaking the deadlock is difficult.

Illustration for 僵局 (deadlock)

More examples

两党在议会辩论中陷入僵局。liǎng dǎng zài yì huì biàn lùn zhōng xiàn rù jiāng jú

The two parties became deadlocked during the parliamentary debate.

Core concept

A shared situation freezes when neither side can change position or make progress.

Common phrases

  • 陷入僵局xiàn rù jiāng jú

    become deadlocked

  • 打破僵局dǎ pò jiāng jú

    break the deadlock

  • 突破僵局tū pò jiāng jú

    overcome the deadlock

Similar words

僵持jiāng chí: A prolonged state of mutual resistance in which neither side gives way.
停滞tíng zhì: A prolonged lack of movement or progress in an activity, process, or situation.
胶着jiāo zhuó: A state in which a dispute or situation becomes entangled and movement stops.
僵化jiāng huà: A state of rigidity in which an organization or system can no longer adapt easily.

Definition in Chinese

谈判或对立各方无法推进，局面僵化、进展停止的状态。tán pàn huò duì lì gè fāng wú fǎ tuī jìn jú miàn jiāng huà jìn zhǎn tíng zhǐ de zhuàng tài

Word origin

The compound 僵 (jiāng, "stiff") + 局 (jú, "situation") frames a situation as stiffened, which explains its use for a contest in which progress has stopped.

Usage tips

  • This noun refers to the whole blocked situation rather than to one person's refusal, so it suits negotiations, disputes, and plans that have stopped moving.

Other meanings

  • standstillnoun

Opposites

Word lists with this word