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针锋相对

zhēn fēng xiāng duìdictionary entry
DEFINITION CC-CEDICT
to oppose each other with equal harshness (idiom) / tit for tat / measure for measure
Sources & editorial notes

Reference definitions: CC-CEDICT contributors and MDBG, CC BY-SA 4.0. Source release 2026-10-27T01:55:52Z. Imported 2026-10-27. Definition wording and meaning order are retained. Recognized pronunciation references are displayed with tone marks; the original source record is available below.

Source record: cd-9980f7617e524753. Source SHA-256: bbc4b27f26bee1a262f4d7939667a040c7857c7fc0200a2fa7a86d3352a09eae.

Original source entry:

針鋒相對 针锋相对 [zhen1 feng1 xiang1 dui4] /to oppose each other with equal harshness (idiom); tit for tat/measure for measure/

Reference definitions and teaching material have separate provenance.

Reference information

The definitions above are from CC-CEDICT. Examples and usage notes are available on selected entries.

Character information

View the individual characters. Their meanings do not necessarily explain the meaning of the whole word.

Other forms in these source records: 針鋒相對

  • 针
    zhēn

    needle / pin / injection / stitch / CL:根[gēn],支[zhī] / variant of 針|针[zhēn], needle

  • 锋
    fēng

    point of a spear / edge of a tool / vanguard / forward (in sports team)

  • 相
    xiāng

    each other / one another / mutually / fret on the neck of a pipa 琵琶[pí pa] (a fret on the soundboard is called a 品[pǐn])

    xiàng

    appearance / portrait / picture / government minister / (physics) phase / (literary) to appraise (esp. by scrutinizing physical features) / to read sb's fortune (by physiognomy, palmistry etc)

    Xiāng

    surname Xiang

  • 对
    duì

    right / correct / towards / at / for / concerning / regarding / to treat (sb a certain way) / to face / (bound form) opposite / facing / matching / to match together / to adjust / to fit / to suit / to answer / to reply / to add / to pour in (a fluid) / to check / to compare / classifier: couple / pair

Reference definitions from CC-CEDICT.