How to Write 矛 (máo) — Meaning “spear; lance”

Imagine a spear (矛) sticking out of the ground with a sharp point at the top and a long handle below. The shape looks like a capital 'Y' with an extra stroke, which can remind you of a weapon. Visualize a warrior holding this spear in battle.

Stroke order: first a left-falling stroke (丿), then a horizontal (一), then a vertical hook (亅), then two diagonal strokes (丿 and ㇏) on the bottom. A common mistake is making the vertical hook too tall or writing the bottom strokes too wide; keep the character compact and balanced.

矛盾 (máo dùn) means 'contradiction' — from an ancient story of a man selling both a spear that could pierce anything and a shield that could block anything. 矛头 (máo tóu) means 'spearhead' and is used figuratively to describe the target of criticism or attack. 长矛 (cháng máo) simply means 'long spear' and is often used in historical or military contexts.

矛 itself is rarely used alone; it appears mostly in compound words like 矛盾, which is extremely common in everyday speech to express inconsistency. The character also appears in idioms and historical references, since the spear was a main weapon in ancient Chinese warfare. The story of 'spear and shield' is a famous cultural lesson about logical flaws.

Common words containing 矛 include: 矛盾 (máo dùn) — contradiction; conflict; 矛头 (máo tóu) — spearhead; the focus of an attack or criticism; 长矛 (cháng máo) — Spear.