shout a challenge before battle; taunt; defy publicly
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
2 senses · 5 examplesverb
to shout a challenge before battle; to taunt the enemy to fight
literaryOriginally a military term from classical Chinese literature, now often used metaphorically.
Dí敌
jiàng将
zài在
chéng城
xià下
jiào叫
zhèn阵
，
wǒ我
fāng方
jiàng将
lǐng领
chén沉
zhuó着
yìng应
zhàn战
。
The enemy general shouted a challenge beneath the city walls, and our commander calmly prepared for battle.
Xiǎo小
shuō说
lǐ里
cháng常
xiě写
dào到
liǎng两
jūn军
duì对
lěi垒
shí时
，
yī一
fāng方
dà大
jiàng将
dān单
qí骑
jiào叫
zhèn阵
de的
qíng情
jié节
。
In novels, there are often scenes where a great general rides out alone to taunt the enemy when two armies face off.
verb
to defy or provoke someone publicly; to call someone out
formalA metaphorical, modern extension of the classical meaning, often used in competitive contexts like sports, debate, or business.
Zài在
xīn新
wén闻
fā发
bù布
huì会
shàng上
，
tā他
zhí直
jiē接
xiàng向
jìng竞
zhēng争
duì对
shǒu手
jiào叫
zhèn阵
。
At the press conference, he directly defied his competitor.
Zhè这
wèi位
nián年
qīng轻
qí棋
shǒu手
gǎn敢
yú于
xiàng向
shì世
jiè界
guàn冠
jūn军
jiào叫
zhèn阵
，
yǒng勇
qì气
kě可
jiā嘉
。
This young chess player dared to challenge the world champion, which is admirable.
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Tā他
de的
wén文
zhāng章
guān观
diǎn点
jiān尖
ruì锐
，
wú无
yì异
yú于
xiàng向
xué学
shù术
quán权
wēi威
jiào叫
zhèn阵
。
The sharp arguments in his article are tantamount to challenging academic authority.