Chinese Conversation · Level 75
90 words
Chinese word
较劲
Pronunciation
Pinyinjiào jìn
Meaning
- verbcompete
Example
别跟他较劲了，没必要。bié gēn tā jiào jìn le méi bì yào
Don't compete with him anymore; there's no need.
More examples
在工作中不要为了小事跟同事较劲。zài gōng zuò zhōng bú yào wèi le xiǎo shì gēn tóng shì jiào jìn
At work, do not compete with your colleagues over trivial matters.
Core concept
A person locks into a struggle for the upper hand, whether through real ability or sheer stubbornness.
Common phrases
跟同事较劲gēn tóng shì jiào jìn
compete with colleagues
与对手较劲yǔ duì shǒu jiào jìn
compete against opponents
Similar words
较量jiào liàng: To test strength or skill against someone in order to decide who wins.
竞争jìng zhēng: To compete with others for benefits, positions, or other desired things.
对抗duì kàng: To resist an opposing side and confront it with force or firm opposition.
争执zhēng zhí: To argue with someone over different opinions while neither side gives way.
Definition in Chinese
用力或用本领与别人较量，想占上风；也可指为小事争执或逞强。yòng lì huò yòng bén lǐng yǔ bié rén jiào liàng xiǎng zhàn shàng fēng yě kě zhǐ wèi xiǎo shì zhēng zhí huò chěng qiáng
Word origin
较 (jiào, "compare") joins 劲 (jìn, "strength") to describe people measuring their force or skill against each other, with the same idea later used for needless personal disputes.
Usage tips
- The word often describes friction between people rather than an organized event, making it a useful choice when an everyday disagreement becomes a matter of pride.