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針尖對麥芒

简针尖对麦芒 · 繁針尖對麥芒

Mandarin · pinyin zhēn jiān duì mài máng

sharply opposed to each other, with neither prepared to give an inch (idiom)

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Characters in this entry

針: Look up this written character
尖: jiān · sharp, pointed, acute, keen
對: duì · correct, right; facing, opposed
麥: Look up this written character
芒: máng · Miscanthus sinensis
针: zhēn · needle; pin; tack; acupuncture
对: duì · correct, right; facing, opposed
麦: mài · wheat, barley, oats; simplified form of Kangxi radical 199

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

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Mandarin tones

1–1–4–4–2 · zhen1 jian1 dui4 mai4 mang2

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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.

針尖對麥芒 · find source passages ↗ · 针尖对麦芒 · find source passages ↗

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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

(of two equally strong sides) sharply opposed to each other, neither making any concessions

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

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