JLPT N1Four-character idioms
百家争鳴
- Meaning
- 多くの学者や論者が自由に活発に議論を交わすこと
- Explanation
- 「百家争鳴」 originates from a situation in ancient China where many schools of thought (the Hundred Schools, 諸子百家) freely competed with their theories, and refers to many scholars and theorists actively exchanging opinions across their differing positions. It is a word that positively expresses a state where scholarship and discourse are flourishing. c1 and c3, which take 「争」 and 「鳴」 literally as fighting and cries, are mistakes; the key point is the lively debate.
Original Japanese explanation
「百家争鳴」は、古代中国で多くの学派（諸子百家）が自由に説を競った状況に由来し、多くの学者や論者が立場を超えて活発に意見を述べ合うことをいう。学問や言論が盛んな様子を肯定的に表す語。「争」「鳴」を字面どおり争い・鳴き声と捉えた c1・c3 は誤りで、要点は活発な論争にある。
Quick check
Choose the most appropriate meaning of 「百家争鳴」.
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