opposite yet complementary; contradictions form unity
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesidiom
opposite things complement each other; contradictory aspects achieve unity through struggle
formalA philosophical term from dialectical materialism describing how contradictory elements (e.g., war and peace, positive and negative) not only oppose each other but also depend on each other and can transform into one another under certain conditions.
Zhè这
liǎng两
gè个
kàn看
sì似
xiāng相
fǎn反
de的
guān观
diǎn点
shí实
jì际
shàng上
shì是
xiāng相
fǎn反
xiāng相
chéng成
de的
。
These two seemingly opposing views are actually complementary opposites that form a unity.
Zài在
yì艺
shù术
chuàng创
zuò作
zhōng中
，
kuā夸
zhāng张
yǔ与
hán含
xù蓄
shì是
xiāng相
fǎn反
xiāng相
chéng成
de的
。
In artistic creation, exaggeration and implication are opposites that complement each other.
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Zhàn战
zhēng争
yǔ与
hé和
píng平
zhè这
duì对
máo矛
dùn盾
xiāng相
fǎn反
xiāng相
chéng成
，
zài在
yī一
dìng定
tiáo条
jiàn件
xià下
kě可
yǐ以
xiāng相
hù互
zhuǎn转
huà化
。
War and peace are contradictory opposites that form a unity, and under certain conditions can transform into each other.