交错配列词 (chiasmus) 指的是一对引用语的前后句的用词交错配列 (a reversal in the order of words in two otherwise parallel phrases)。是种对调词序以造成词意相反的对仗句。看看下面的例子，便能一目了然：

A well-educated man should know something of everything and everything of something.

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An optimist goes to the window every morning and says, 'Good morning, God!'

The pessimist goes to the window every morning and says, 'Good God! Morning!'

Anonymous

乐观的人每天早晨走到窗口说的是「神啊，早安。」

悲乐观的人每天早晨走到窗口说的是「我的天啊！早晨！」

作者不详

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An optimist sees an opportunity in every calamity;

a pessimist sees a calamity in every opportunity.

乐观者在每一次灾难中见到机会；

悲观者在每一次机会中见到灾难。

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Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.

John Fitzgerald Kennedy

勿问国家为你做了些什么，要问你为国家做了些什么。

肯尼迪

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Better is a witty fool than a foolish wit.

Shakespeare

大智若愚胜过大愚若智。

莎士比亚