廉洁 (lián jié) — incorruptible, honest, clean (in government or… | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

Used almost exclusively for officials and government: 'incorruptible, free of bribery' — a higher, formal register than 廉正 (which is the more general 'integrity'). Not used for physical cleanliness.

adjective

incorruptiblehonestclean (in government or personal ethics)

Examples

廉洁。
Zhèng fǔ guān yuán bì xū bǎo chí lián jié de zuò fēng.
Government officials must maintain an incorruptible work style.
廉洁。
Tā yì shēng dōu guò zhe lián jié de shēng huó.
He lived an honest and clean life all his life.
廉洁。
lián jié Shì měi gè gōng mín yīng yǒu de pǐn dé.
Integrity is a virtue every citizen should have.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

廉 'honest' and 洁 'clean' together express incorruptible conduct.

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.

广兼廉

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

兼

兼jiān廉lián

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

廉 pairs 广 with 兼; 兼 supplies the sound.

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 潔; 洁 is its simplified writing.

氵絜潔

Meaning part形符xíngfú

氵Written in full as水shuǐwater

Sound part声符shēngfú

絜

絜jié潔jié

Same sound today

The traditional form 潔 pairs 氵, a water part, with 絜, which gives the sound; the simplified 洁 is a later abbreviation.

Appears in

HSK 3.0 Level 7-9 HSK 2.0 Level 6

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.