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據理力爭

简据理力争 · 繁據理力爭

Mandarin · pinyin jù lǐ lì zhēng

to contend on strong grounds
to argue strongly for what is right

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Characters in this entry

據: Look up this written character
理: lǐ · reason, logic; manage
力: lì · power, capability, influence; Kangxi radical 19
爭: Look up this written character
据: jù · to occupy, take possession of; a base, position
争: zhēng · dispute, fight, contend, strive

Written characters and their own readings; the entry’s pronunciation is shown above.

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Mandarin tones

4–3–4–1 · ju4 li3 li4 zheng1

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Read this spelling in Classical texts

Follow a written form into the eight pinned witnesses: Analects, Mencius, Laozi, Zhuangzi, Xunzi, Han Feizi, Sunzi and the Mao Shijing. A match is a place to investigate; it does not prove that a modern dictionary sense fits the passage.

據理力爭 · find source passages ↗ · 据理力争 · find source passages ↗

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Compare dictionary sources Wiktionary · 1 sense · 1 Cantonese reading

Rime Cantonese 粵拼

geoi3 lei5 lik6 zang1

Cantonese word readings for 據理力爭. This lexicon supplies readings, not definitions.

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Wiktionary English definitions · Chinese section

Independent source senses for this spelling, with usage labels retained. Not matched to the pronunciation above.

phrase

(idiomatic) to argue vigorously on the basis of sound reason or justice

Source page · dump 2026-09-02 · Contributors & history

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