stalemate

/ˈsteɪlmeɪt/ (bre, ipa) · [stˈelmˌet] /ˈsteɪlmeɪt/ (ame, ipa) · [stˈelmˌet] /ˈstāl-ˌmāt How to pronounce stalemate (audio)/ (ame, mw)

stalemate — 名詞

  • stalematesingular
  • stalematesplural

1. a situation where two sides cannot defeat each other or force a decision, so the

1.名詞C1
釋義

僵局；僵持

雙方都推不動局面

a situation where two sides cannot defeat each other or force a decision, so the argument, contest, or plan stops moving forward.

例句

After six hours, the pay talks ended in stalemate.

談了六個小時後，薪資協商仍以僵局收場。

pattern: end in stalemate

Neither party would cut taxes, so parliament reached a stalemate.

兩黨都不肯減稅，於是國會談判陷入僵局。

collocation: reach a stalemate

同義詞
  • deadlock

    very close in meaning; often used for talks, votes, and formal disputes

  • impasse

    more formal; stresses that no clear way forward is visible

  • standoff

    often suggests a tense pause, especially in military or police situations

反義詞
  • breakthrough

    the point when progress finally becomes possible again

  • agreement

    the result when both sides stop blocking each other

文法句型

reach a stalemate

break the stalemate

end in stalemate

用法筆記

Common in politics, labour talks, legal disputes, and other situations where both sides refuse to move first. Often follows verbs like 'reach', 'break', or 'end in'.

常見錯誤

❌The manager stalemate with the union.
✅The manager reached a stalemate with the union.
💡here 'stalemate' is a noun, so it usually follows verbs like 'reach' or 'break'.
❌They made a stalemate over the budget.
✅They reached a stalemate over the budget.
💡English normally uses 'reach' rather than 'make' with this noun.

2. in chess, a draw that happens when the player whose turn it is cannot move any p

2.名詞C2
釋義

逼和

無子可走而成和棋

in chess, a draw that happens when the player whose turn it is cannot move any piece, yet the king is still safe.

例句

Ryan saw the stalemate and stopped searching for a winning move.

Ryan 看出那是逼和，便不再找致勝著。

pattern: recognize a stalemate

One more pawn move would have turned the endgame into stalemate.

只要兵再走一步，那盤殘局就會變成逼和。

collocation: turn the endgame into stalemate

同義詞
  • draw

    broader term for any game that ends without a winner

  • tie

    general sports word; not specific to this chess position

反義詞
  • checkmate

    a winning attack where the king is under threat and cannot escape

文法句型

force a stalemate

end in stalemate

escape with stalemate

用法筆記

Used only in chess. Distinguish from a general draw: stalemate happens because the player to move has no legal move while the king is not under attack.

常見錯誤

❌The king was in stalemate because it was attacked.
✅The king was in check, not stalemate.
💡stalemate only happens when the king is safe but no legal move is available.

stalemate — 動詞