Keywords: jiangju, jiāngjú, 僵局, what does jiangju mean, Chinese for stalemate, deadlock in Chinese, impasse in Chinese, political stalemate, negotiation deadlock, breaking a deadlock in Chinese
Summary: Learn the Chinese word 僵局 (jiāngjú), which means “stalemate,” “deadlock,” or “impasse.” This page breaks down the characters, explains its cultural significance in negotiations, and provides over 10 practical example sentences. Discover how to use 僵局 (jiāngjú) to talk about everything from political deadlocks to stubborn arguments, and understand how to “break” a stalemate in Chinese.
Core Meaning
Pinyin (with tone marks): jiāngjú
Part of Speech: Noun
HSK Level: HSK 6
Concise Definition: A situation in which no progress can be made because of a fundamental disagreement between opposing parties; a stalemate.
In a Nutshell: Imagine a game of chess where neither player can make a move to win—they are completely stuck. That is a 僵局. It's a state of frozen conflict where opposing forces are balanced, and progress is impossible. This term is most often used in formal contexts like business negotiations, political talks, or legal disputes, but it can also describe a serious, unresolvable argument.
Character Breakdown
僵 (jiāng): This character means “stiff,” “rigid,” or “frozen.” The left side is the “person” radical (亻), and the right side provides the sound. Think of something that has become so stiff it can no longer move, like a body frozen from the cold.
局 (jú): This character can mean “situation,” “bureau,” or a “game board” (like a chessboard). Here, it refers to the overall state of affairs or the “layout” of the situation.
Combined Meaning: When you put them together, 僵局 (jiāngjú) literally means a “stiff situation” or a “frozen game.” This paints a vivid picture of a scenario where all action has ceased due to rigidity and opposition.
Cultural Context and Significance
In Chinese culture, where maintaining social harmony (和谐, héxié) and giving “face” (面子, miànzi) are highly valued, a 僵局 is generally seen as a significant failure. It implies that communication has broken down and the relationship between the parties is at risk. It's not just a strategic pause; it's a problematic state that both sides are usually motivated to resolve to avoid mutual loss of face.
Comparison to Western Culture: In American or Western business culture, a “deadlock” might sometimes be viewed as a tough but acceptable negotiation tactic—a sign that you're “standing your ground.” While this can be true in China as well, the cultural pressure to find a compromise and “break the deadlock” (打破僵局, dǎpò jiāngjú) is often much stronger. Allowing a situation to remain in a 僵局 for too long can be interpreted as stubbornness and a lack of sincerity, damaging the long-term relationship (关系, guānxi).
Practical Usage in Modern China
Formal and Official Contexts: This is the most common use for 僵局. You will frequently hear or read it in the news regarding:
Political Negotiations: Trade talks between countries, peace treaties, or domestic political disputes.
Business Deals: Mergers, acquisitions, or contract negotiations that have stalled over key terms.
Legal Cases: When a jury cannot reach a unanimous decision.
Informal Contexts: While less common, 僵局 can be used in a slightly dramatic or humorous way to describe a stubborn personal argument that has no clear resolution. For example, two friends arguing about a trip destination might say their planning has reached a 僵局.
Connotation: The word is almost universally negative. It signifies frustration, a lack of progress, and a difficult problem that needs to be solved.
English: This political stalemate has already lasted for several months.
Analysis: This shows 僵局 used to describe a political situation. The measure word for a situation like this is `场 (chǎng)`.
Example 4:
他们的婚姻因为财务问题走到了僵局。
Pinyin: Tāmen de hūnyīn yīnwèi cáiwù wèntí zǒu dàole jiāngjú.
English: Their marriage has reached an impasse due to financial problems.
Analysis: `走到僵局 (zǒu dào jiāngjú)` means “to walk into a stalemate,” another way to express reaching a deadlock, often used for relationships or long-term processes.
Example 5:
新的提议也许能帮助双方走出僵局。
Pinyin: Xīn de tíyì yěxǔ néng bāngzhù shuāngfāng zǒuchū jiāngjú.
English: The new proposal might help both sides move past the deadlock.
Analysis: `走出僵局 (zǒuchū jiāngjú)` means “to walk out of a deadlock,” emphasizing the resolution.
English: This game of chess ultimately ended in a stalemate, with no winner.
Analysis: This is a very literal use of the term, connecting back to its “game board” origin. The phrase `以…告终 (yǐ…gàozhōng)` means “to end with…”
Example 7:
公司董事会的僵局导致重要决策被推迟。
Pinyin: Gōngsī dǒngshìhuì de jiāngjú dǎozhì zhòngyào juécè bèi tuīchí.
English: The deadlock on the company's board of directors caused important decisions to be postponed.
Analysis: Demonstrates a business context. `董事会 (dǒngshìhuì)` is a board of directors.
Example 8:
为了避免僵局，他主动做出了让步。
Pinyin: Wèile bìmiǎn jiāngjú, tā zhǔdòng zuòchūle ràngbù.
English: In order to avoid a stalemate, he took the initiative to make a concession.
Analysis: This highlights the proactive steps one might take to prevent a 僵局. `让步 (ràngbù)` is “to make a concession.”
Example 9:
目前的僵局对谁都没有好处。
Pinyin: Mùqián de jiāngjú duì shéi dōu méiyǒu hǎochu.
English: The current impasse is not good for anyone.
Analysis: A simple but useful sentence to express the negative nature of a 僵局.
Example 10:
两国关系正处于危险的僵局之中。
Pinyin: Liǎng guó guānxì zhèng chǔyú wēixiǎn de jiāngjú zhīzhōng.
English: The relationship between the two countries is in the midst of a dangerous deadlock.
Analysis: The phrase `处于…之中 (chǔyú…zhīzhōng)` means “to be in the middle of…” and adds a formal, serious tone.
Nuances and Common Mistakes
Not for Physical “Jams”: A common mistake for English speakers is to confuse 僵局 with “jam.” You cannot use it for a traffic jam or a paper jam. For a traffic jam, you must use `堵车 (dǔchē)`. 僵局 exclusively refers to a stalemate in a dispute, negotiation, or conflict between two or more parties.
Correct: 交通很堵塞。(Jiāotōng hěn dǔsè.) or 堵车了。(Dǔchē le.)
Formality Level:僵局 is a formal, written-style word (书面语, shūmiànyǔ). Using it for a minor, everyday argument like what to have for dinner can sound overly dramatic or comical. For simple arguments, it's more natural to use `吵架 (chǎojià)` (to quarrel) or `有分歧 (yǒu fēnqí)` (to have a disagreement).
Related Terms and Concepts
`打破僵局 (dǎpò jiāngjú)` - A verb phrase meaning “to break a deadlock.” The most common action associated with this noun.
`陷入僵局 (xiànrù jiāngjú)` - A verb phrase meaning “to fall into a deadlock.” Describes the beginning of the stalemate.
`对峙 (duìzhì)` - A standoff; a confrontation. This describes the state of the parties who are *in* a 僵局; they are in a standoff with each other.
`死胡同 (sǐhútòng)` - A dead end; a cul-de-sac. Used metaphorically for a situation with no exit. It's similar to 僵局, but focuses more on a blocked path rather than a conflict between two forces.
`困境 (kùnjìng)` - A predicament; a difficult situation. This is a much broader term. A 僵局 is a specific *type* of 困境.
`让步 (ràngbù)` - To make a concession; to compromise. This is the most common way to break a 僵局.
`谈判 (tánpàn)` - Negotiation. The activity or context where a 僵局 most often occurs.
`和谐 (héxié)` - Harmony. The key cultural value that makes a 僵局 particularly undesirable in Chinese society.