Chinese word

正直

Pronunciation

Pinyinzhèng zhí

Meaning

  • adjectivehonest

Example

他是个正直的人。tā shì gè zhèng zhí de rén

He is an honest person.

Illustration for 正直 (honest)

More examples

在关键时刻，她仍然表现得很正直。zài guān jiàn shí kè tā réng rán biǎo xiàn de hěn zhèng zhí

At crucial moments, she still acted honestly.

Core concept

A straight, open way of dealing with people, where speech is clear and reality is not covered up.

Common phrases

  • 为人正直wéi rén zhèng zhí

    be honest

  • 保持正直bǎo chí zhèng zhí

    remain honest

  • 以正直为原则yǐ zhèng zhí wèi yuán zé

    make honesty one's principle

Similar words

诚实chéng shí: Telling the truth and not trying to mislead people.
坦诚tǎn chéng: Showing feelings and ideas openly and sincerely.
坦率tǎn shuài: Giving opinions and reactions directly and readily.
直率zhí shuài: Speaking in a direct way with little restraint.

Definition in Chinese

指不欺骗他人、说话直率且实事求是的品质或态度。zhǐ bù qī piàn tā rén shuō huà zhí shuài qiě shí shì qiú shì de pǐn zhì huò tài dù

Word origin

正直 (zhèngzhí, "upright and straight") joins 正 (zhèng, "right") + 直 (zhí, "straight"), linking moral correctness with an unbending manner.

Usage tips

  • This adjective praises a person's character as well as open speech, so it can describe someone even when no particular statement or action is being discussed.

Other meanings

  • sincereadjective
  • frankadjective

Opposites

Word lists with this word