据理力争 jù lǐ lì zhēng to argue persuasively

Explanation

指根据事实和道理，竭力争辩，维护自己的正当权益或观点。

It means to argue forcefully based on facts and reason, defending one's legitimate rights or views.

Origin Story

话说唐朝时期，有个叫李白的诗人，才华横溢，却性格耿直。一次，他参加宫廷宴会，席间有大臣仗势欺人，故意刁难一位年轻的官员。年轻官员虽然满腹才华，但却胆小怕事，不敢反驳。李白看不下去，拍案而起，据理力争，为年轻官员辩护。他引经据典，条理清晰地驳斥了大臣的无理指责，最终为年轻官员洗清了冤屈。大臣们哑口无言，皇帝也对李白的仗义执言甚为赞赏。此事后，李白“据理力争”的侠义之举传为佳话，更显其名士风范。

huà shuō táng cháo shí qī, yǒu gè jiào lǐ bái de shī rén, cái huá héng yì, què xìng gé gěng zhí. yī cì, tā cān jiā gōng tíng yǎnhuì, xí jiān yǒu dà chén zhàng shì qī rén, gù yì diāo nàn yī wèi nián qīng de guān yuán. nián qīng guān yuán suīrán mǎn fù cái huá, dàn què dǎn xiǎo pà shì, bù gǎn fǎn bó. lǐ bái kàn bù xià qù, pāi àn ér qǐ, jù lǐ lì zhēng, wèi nián qīng guān yuán biànhù. tā yǐn jīng jù diǎn, tiáo lǐ qīng xī de bó chì le dà chén de wú lǐ zhǐzé, zuì zhōng wèi nián qīng guān yuán xǐ qīng le yuān qū. dà chén men yǎ kǒu wú yán, huáng dì yě duì lǐ bái de zhàng yì zhí yán shèn wèi zànshǎng. cǐ shì hòu, lǐ bái 'jù lǐ lì zhēng' de xiá yì zhī jǔ chuán wéi jiā huà, gèng xiǎn qí míng shì fēng fàn.

In the Tang Dynasty, there was a poet named Li Bai, who was very talented but also very outspoken. Once, he attended a court banquet, where a powerful minister was bullying a young official. Although the young official was talented, he was too timid to retort. Li Bai, witnessing this injustice, stood up and argued forcefully on behalf of the young official. He refuted the minister's accusations with clear and compelling logic. Eventually, the young official was cleared of the false charges. The minister was speechless, and the emperor praised Li Bai's brave act of speaking up for justice. This story became a legend, highlighting Li Bai's upright and courageous character.

Usage

用于赞扬那些敢于为正义、真理而斗争的人，也常用于批评那些遇到问题不敢据理力争的人。

yòng yú zàn yang nà xiē gǎn yú wèi zhèng yì, zhēn lǐ ér dòuzhēng de rén, yě cháng yòng yú pīpíng nà xiē yù dào wèntí bù gǎn jù lǐ lì zhēng de rén

It is used to praise those who dare to fight for justice and truth, and also often used to criticize those who do not dare to fight for their rights when they encounter problems.

Examples

• 面对不公，他据理力争，维护了自己的权益。

  miànduì bùgōng, tā jù lǐ lì zhēng, wéihù le zìjǐ de quányì

  He fought for his rights in the face of injustice.

• 在会议上，他据理力争，最终说服了大家。

  zài huìyì shàng, tā jù lǐ lì zhēng, zuìzhōng shuōfú le dàjiā

  At the meeting, he argued persuasively and eventually convinced everyone.

Related Idioms

• 据理力争

• 力排众议

• 理直气壮

Opposite Idioms

• 强词夺理

• 文过饰非