Oxymoron 矛盾修辭 (矛盾修辞)

máodùn xiūcí · from Greek

What is an oxymoron?

An oxymoron is a figure of speech that joins contradictory words for effect, like deafening silence or sweet sorrow.

The Greek word itself is an oxymoron: sharp-dull. Chinese 矛盾 máodùn (contradiction) literally means spear-shield, from a Han Feizi story about a merchant selling an unstoppable spear and an impenetrable shield. Oxymorons are common in poetry, slogans and pop lyrics.

Examples

deafening silence; bittersweet; 甜蜜的負擔 tiánmì de fùdān (sweet burden); 矛盾 máodùn (spear and shield: contradiction)

Kungfucius says: Chinese named contradiction after a salesman who oversold his weapons. Timeless.