Meaning
狡辩 means to argue in a cunning, dishonest way by twisting facts or logic to defend oneself or avoid blame. It carries a negative connotation, suggesting someone is being deliberately misleading or evasive rather than honestly defending their position. The word combines 狡 (cunning, crafty) with 辩 (to argue, to debate).
Usage
This word is typically used in formal or written contexts, though it can appear in serious spoken conversations. It's almost always negative—accusing someone of 狡辩 means you think they're being dishonest or manipulative in their arguments. Common in news articles, critiques, and debates when calling out bad-faith reasoning.
Examples
- 01他明明做错了，还在那儿狡辩。, .He clearly made a mistake, but he's still there making excuses.
- 02不要再狡辩了，证据确凿，你无法否认。, , .Stop quibbling. The evidence is conclusive; you can't deny it.
Characters
Common collocations
- 狡辩的借口sophistic excuse
- 无理狡辩to argue unreasonably
- 进行狡辩to engage in sophistry
Antonyms
Origin
狡 originally referred to crafty foxes (note the 犭 dog/animal radical), extending to mean cunning behavior. 辩 combines 辛 (bitter, laborious) with 言 (speech), suggesting effortful argumentation.