Chinese Conversation · Level 66
90 words
Chinese word
一本正经
Pronunciation
Pinyinyī běn zhèng jīng
Meaning
- idiomserious
Example
他总是一本正经，大家都笑他。tā zǒng shì yì běn zhèng jīng dà jiā dōu xiào tā
He is always so serious, and everyone laughs at him.
More examples
她在采访中摆出一本正经的样子，回答得很认真。tā zài cái fǎng zhōng bǎi chū yì běn zhèng jīng de yàng zi huí dá de hěn rèn zhēn
She put on a serious look during the interview and answered very seriously.
Core concept
A person or action held in an unbroken pose of seriousness and propriety.
Common phrases
摆出一本正经的样子bǎi chū yì běn zhèng jīng de yàng zi
put on a serious look
一本正经地说话yì běn zhèng jīng dì shuō huà
speak seriously
Similar words
正儿八经zhèngr bā jīng: Being plainly proper and serious in conduct, appearance, or speech.
一板一眼yì bǎn yì yǎn: Being methodical and stiff, with little room for a different way of doing things.
装模作样zhuāng mú zuò yàng: Pretending to be serious and proper by carefully arranging an outward display.
四平八稳sì píng bā wěn: Keeping a balanced, settled manner and a steady way of doing things.
Definition in Chinese
形容人或言行非常严肃，既可以表示真心认真，也常用于讽刺假装正经的态度。xíng róng rén huò yán xíng fēi cháng yán sù jì ké yǐ biǎo shì zhēn xīn rèn zhēn yě cháng yòng yú fěng cì jiǎ zhuāng zhèng jīng de tài dù
Word origin
一本 (yìběn, "one whole book") intensifies 正经 (zhèngjīng, "serious and proper"), creating an image of seriousness carried through without any casual break.
Usage tips
- Before a verb, 地 (de, "adverbial particle") lets the idiom describe how an action is performed, a useful pattern for recognizing it in conversation.
Other meanings
- act seriousidiom
- stiffidiom