理屈詞窮
简 理屈词穷 · 繁 理屈詞窮Meanings
- lit. having presented a flawed argument, one has nothing further to add (idiom)
- fig. unable to provide a convincing argument to support one's position
- to not have a leg to stand on
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Mandarin tones
3–1–2–2 · li3 qu1 ci2 qiong2
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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.
理屈詞窮 · find source passages ↗ · 理屈词穷 · find source passages ↗
Compare dictionary sources Wiktionary · 1 sense · 1 Cantonese reading
Rime Cantonese 粵拼
lei5 wat1 ci4 kung4
Cantonese word readings for 理屈詞窮. 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 be unable to put forth any convincing arguments to justify one's opinion; to not have a leg to stand on
Source page · dump 2026-09-02 · Contributors & history
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