义正词严 (yì zhèng cí yán) — (chengyu) speaking with righteous indignation and severe words; in a stern and just manner

Definition

A formal chengyu meaning to speak with righteous anger and sharp, forceful words. Used for powerful, indignant rhetoric — usually in writing or public speech, not casual talk.

verb
(chengyu) speaking with righteous indignation and severe wordsin a stern and just manner

Examples

  • 义正词严。
    Tā zài huì yì shàng yì zhèng cí yán dì pī píng le zhè zhǒng bú fù zé rèn de xíng wéi.
    He criticized this irresponsible behavior at the meeting with righteous sternness.
  • 义正词严，。
    Zhè piān shēng míng xiě dé yì zhèng cí yán, ràng rén wú fǎ fǎn bó.
    This statement is worded so righteously and sternly that no one can refute it.
  • 义正词严。
    Lǜ shī zài fǎ tíng shàng yì zhèng cí yán dì chén shù le shòu hài zhě de lì chǎng.
    The lawyer presented the victim's position in court with righteous severity.

Origin

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 義; 义 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
羊羊yáng
Sound part声符shēngfú
我
我wǒ義yì
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 義 has 我 giving the sound and 羊 meaning good or auspicious; the simplified 义 is a later abbreviation.

Open 义 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
止止zhǐ
Sound part声符shēngfú
丁
丁dīng正zhèng
Same sound today

正 pairs 止 with 丁; 止 marks the sense and 丁 gives the sound.

Open 正 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 詞; 词 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
言言yánspeech
Sound part声符shēngfú
司
司sī詞cí(r)
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 詞 uses 言, meaning speech, and 司 to show how it was pronounced; the simplified 词 is a shorthand, and its right side is not the historical sound part.

Open 词 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 嚴; 严 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
喦喦yántalkative
Sound part声符shēngfú
敢
敢gǎn嚴yán
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 嚴 combines 喦 (talkative) and 敢 (daring); the simplified 严 is a later shorthand.

Open 严 →

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