Chinese Conversation · Level 64
90 words
Chinese word
挑战
Pronunciation
Pinyintiǎo zhàn
Meaning
- verbchallenge
Example
他想挑战这个记录。tā xiǎng tiǎo zhàn zhè ge jì lù
He wants to challenge this record.
More examples
他在创业的时候敢于挑战传统做法。tā zài chuàng yè de shí hòu gǎn yú tiǎo zhàn chuán tǒng zuò fǎ
When he started his business, he dared to challenge traditional practices.
Core concept
A call to prove ability by meeting resistance, competition, or a demanding goal.
Common phrases
挑战自己tiǎo zhàn zì jǐ
challenge yourself
挑战极限tiǎo zhàn jí xiàn
push the limits
挑战权威tiǎo zhàn quán wēi
challenge authority
Similar words
竞争jìng zhēng: Striving against others for the same goal, reward, or advantage.
比赛bǐ sài: Taking part in a contest that compares skills or strength and determines who wins.
考验kǎo yàn: Testing a person or thing to find out how well it can perform or how strong it is.
Definition in Chinese
向他人或事物提出比试或难题，带有试探性或激励性的意味，也可指面对困难的尝试。xiàng tā rén huò shì wù tí chū bǐ shì huò nán tí dài yǒu shì tàn xìng huò jī lì xìng de yì wèi yě kě zhǐ miàn duì kùn nán de cháng shì
Word origin
挑 (tiǎo, "provoke") + 战 (zhàn, "battle") forms 挑战 (tiǎozhàn, "challenge"), giving the word its sense of entering a contest or facing difficulty.
Usage tips
- English speakers may hear challenge as a confrontation, but everyday Chinese also uses this verb for a neutral attempt to break a record or handle a hard problem.