Show pageOld revisionsBacklinksBack to top This page is read only. You can view the source, but not change it. Ask your administrator if you think this is wrong. ====== jiūfēn: 纠纷 - Dispute, Conflict, Entanglement ====== ===== Quick Summary ===== * **Keywords:** jiufen, 纠纷, Chinese for dispute, legal dispute in Chinese, conflict, disagreement, settle a dispute in Chinese, 解决纠纷, 经济纠纷, 劳动纠纷, Chinese conflict resolution. * **Summary:** The Chinese word **纠纷 (jiūfēn)** refers to a **dispute, conflict, or entanglement**. It describes a more serious and complex disagreement than a simple argument, often involving conflicting interests, rights, or legal claims. Understanding **纠纷** is key to navigating business, legal, and even personal conflicts in China, where resolving disputes often prioritizes harmony and mediation over direct confrontation. ===== Core Meaning ===== * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** jiū fēn * **Part of Speech:** Noun * **HSK Level:** HSK 5 * **Concise Definition:** A dispute, conflict, or complicated disagreement between two or more parties. * **In a Nutshell:** Think of **纠纷 (jiūfēn)** as a "tangled mess" of a situation. It's not just a shouting match; it's a substantive disagreement that needs to be untangled and resolved. It's more formal than a simple argument (`吵架 chǎojià`) and often carries legal or financial implications, covering everything from a contract disagreement to a neighborly conflict over property lines. ===== Character Breakdown ===== * **纠 (jiū):** The radical 纟(sī) means "silk" or "thread". The character itself means to entangle, intertwine, or to correct. It visually represents threads getting twisted together. * **纷 (fēn):** This character also contains the "silk" radical 纟(sī). It means numerous, disorderly, or confused. It paints a picture of many threads in a chaotic jumble. * Together, **纠纷 (jiūfēn)** literally means "entangled and disorderly threads." This is a powerful and intuitive metaphor for a complicated, messy dispute where the interests and claims of different parties are tangled up and difficult to separate. ===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== In Chinese culture, the concept of social harmony (和谐 - héxié) is paramount. Publicly airing grievances and engaging in direct, aggressive confrontation is often seen as a loss of "face" ([[面子]] - miànzi) for everyone involved. This makes the handling of a **纠纷** culturally distinct from how a "dispute" might be handled in the West. While an American approach might be to "get a lawyer" and assert one's rights in court, the traditional Chinese approach to a **纠纷** often prioritizes mediation (调解 - tiáojiě). The goal is not necessarily for one side to "win," but for both parties to find a compromise, restore the relationship if possible, and resolve the issue without escalating it to a public and costly legal battle ([[官司]] - guānsi). This reflects a collectivist value system where maintaining long-term relationships and community stability can be more important than individual victory. ===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== **纠纷 (jiūfēn)** is a common and important term in modern life, appearing in formal and semi-formal contexts. You'll hear it on the news, see it in contracts, and use it to describe significant disagreements. * **Legal & Business Context:** This is the most common area. It's used to describe official disputes that may require legal intervention. * **经济纠纷 (jīngjì jiūfēn):** Economic/financial dispute (e.g., over a debt or investment). * **劳动纠纷 (láodòng jiūfēn):** Labor dispute (e.g., between an employee and an employer over wages or termination). * **合同纠纷 (hétong jiūfēn):** Contract dispute. * **Interpersonal Context:** While less common for minor spats, it can be used for serious personal conflicts. * **家庭纠纷 (jiātíng jiūfēn):** Family dispute (e.g., over inheritance). * **感情纠纷 (gǎnqíng jiūfēn):** Relationship/emotional dispute (often used in news reports about serious conflicts between partners). * **Common Verbs:** * **发生纠纷 (fāshēng jiūfēn):** for a dispute to arise/occur. * **解决纠纷 (jiějué jiūfēn):** to resolve/settle a dispute. * **避免纠纷 (bìmiǎn jiūfēn):** to avoid a dispute. ===== Example Sentences ===== * **Example 1:** * 我们公司和供应商之间出现了一些合同**纠纷**。 * Pinyin: Wǒmen gōngsī hé gōngyìngshāng zhījiān chūxiànle yīxiē hétong **jiūfēn**. * English: Some contract disputes have arisen between our company and the supplier. * Analysis: A classic and very common use of the term in a business context. It's a neutral, formal way to state the problem. * **Example 2:** * 为了避免**纠纷**，我们最好在签合同前把所有条款都看清楚。 * Pinyin: Wèile bìmiǎn **jiūfēn**, wǒmen zuìhǎo zài qiān hétong qián bǎ suǒyǒu tiáokuǎn dōu kàn qīngchǔ. * English: To avoid disputes, we had better read all the clauses clearly before signing the contract. * Analysis: This sentence shows the proactive use of the term. The goal is prevention, which aligns with the cultural value of maintaining harmony. * **Example 3:** * 他们因为孩子的抚养权问题产生了严重的**纠纷**。 * Pinyin: Tāmen yīnwèi háizi de fǔyǎngquán wèntí chǎnshēngle yánzhòng de **jiūfēn**. * English: They had a serious dispute over the issue of child custody. * Analysis: Here, **纠纷** is used for a serious family matter with legal implications. The adjective 严重 (yánzhòng - serious) is often paired with it. * **Example 4:** * 如果你和房东有**纠纷**，可以先找社区委员会调解。 * Pinyin: Rúguǒ nǐ hé fángdōng yǒu **jiūfēn**, kěyǐ xiān zhǎo shèqū wěiyuánhuì tiáojiě. * English: If you have a dispute with your landlord, you can first seek mediation from the neighborhood committee. * Analysis: This sentence perfectly illustrates the cultural preference for mediation (调解 - tiáojiě) as a first step in resolving a **纠纷**. * **Example 5:** * 这起劳动**纠纷**最终通过法律途径解决了。 * Pinyin: Zhè qǐ láodòng **jiūfēn** zuìzhōng tōngguò fǎlǜ tújìng jiějuéle. * English: This labor dispute was finally resolved through legal channels. * Analysis: This shows what happens when mediation fails. It highlights that **纠纷** is the stage before (or leading to) a formal legal process. * **Example 6:** * 两个邻居因为噪音问题发生了**纠纷**。 * Pinyin: Liǎng ge línjū yīnwèi zàoyīn wèntí fāshēngle **jiūfēn**. * English: The two neighbors got into a dispute because of a noise issue. * Analysis: A common, everyday scenario where a persistent problem escalates into a more formal "dispute." * **Example 7:** * 新闻报道了一起因停车位引起的**纠纷**。 * Pinyin: xīnwén bàodàole yī qǐ yīn tíngchēwèi yǐnqǐ de **jiūfēn**. * English: The news reported on a dispute caused by a parking spot. * Analysis: This shows how **纠纷** is the standard term used in media reporting for conflicts in society. The measure word for events, 起 (qǐ), is used here. * **Example 8:** * 他们的商业**纠纷**涉及金额巨大。 * Pinyin: Tāmen de shāngyè **jiūfēn** shèjí jīn'é jùdà. * English: Their business dispute involves a huge amount of money. * Analysis: This highlights the financial aspect often associated with a **纠纷**. * **Example 9:** * 这不仅仅是个人**纠纷**，它还影响了整个团队的士气。 * Pinyin: Zhè bùjǐnjǐn shì gèrén **jiūfēn**, tā hái yǐngxiǎngle zhěnggè tuánduì de shìqì. * English: This isn't just a personal dispute; it has also affected the morale of the entire team. * Analysis: This sentence distinguishes a "personal dispute" from its wider consequences, showing the term's versatility. * **Example 10:** * 双方同意搁置**纠纷**，重新开始谈判。 * Pinyin: Shuāngfāng tóngyì gēzhì **jiūfēn**, chóngxīn kāishǐ tánpàn. * English: Both sides agreed to set aside the dispute and restart negotiations. * Analysis: Demonstrates a step in the resolution process. 搁置 (gēzhì - to set aside) is a useful collocation. ===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== * **Don't use it for a simple argument:** The most common mistake for learners is using **纠纷** for a minor, everyday disagreement. If you and your friend argue about which movie to see, that is a [[争论]] (zhēnglùn - an argument/debate) or a [[吵架]] (chǎojià - a quarrel), not a **纠纷**. * **Incorrect:** 我和朋友为看什么电影发生了**纠纷**。(Wǒ hé péngyǒu wèi kàn shénme diànyǐng fāshēngle jiūfēn.) * **Correct:** 我和朋友为看什么电影**争论**了起来。(Wǒ hé péngyǒu wèi kàn shénme diànyǐng zhēnglùn le qǐlái.) * **"Dispute" vs. 纠纷:** While "dispute" is the best translation, **纠纷** carries a stronger sense of "entanglement" and complexity. A "dispute" in English can sometimes just be a verbal disagreement, whereas **纠纷** almost always implies conflicting underlying interests (money, property, rights, etc.) that need to be formally resolved. ===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== * [[矛盾]] (máodùn) - Contradiction; conflict. More abstract than 纠纷. Can refer to internal conflict (e.g., in one's heart) or a conflict of principles. * [[冲突]] (chōngtū) - Conflict; clash. Often implies a more direct and sometimes even physical confrontation. Generally more intense than a 纠纷. * [[争论]] (zhēnglùn) - Argument; debate. Focuses on the verbal act of disagreeing over an opinion or a point. It's a component of a 纠纷, but not the whole thing. * [[吵架]] (chǎojià) - To quarrel; to bicker. A very colloquial term for an emotional, often loud, verbal fight. It's informal and personal. * [[官司]] (guānsi) - Lawsuit. This is the formal legal action that a 纠纷 can escalate into if it cannot be resolved privately or through mediation. * [[调解]] (tiáojiě) - To mediate; to conciliate. A very common and culturally preferred method for resolving a 纠纷 in China. * [[分歧]] (fēnqí) - Difference; divergence (of opinion). This is often the root cause of a 纠纷, but it's less severe. You can have a 分歧 without it turning into a 纠纷. * [[摩擦]] (mócā) - Friction; clash. A metaphor for minor, ongoing conflicts or disagreements, often between colleagues or in a relationship. Less serious than a 纠纷.