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径直 (jìng zhí) — directly; straight (without detours or hesitation)

Definition

Adverb: do something straight / without detours or hesitation. More decisive than 一直 (which emphasizes continuous straight-ahead motion) and covers both literal path and figurative directness (径直问 = ask straight out).

adverb
directlystraight (without detours or hesitation)

Examples

  • 径直，。
    Tā jìng zhí zǒu xiàng mén kǒu, méi yǒu huí tóu.
    He walked straight toward the door without looking back.
  • 径直，。
    Yǒu wèn tí jiù jìng zhí wèn, bié bù hǎo yì si.
    If you have a question, just ask directly — don't be shy.
  • 径直，。
    Fēi jī jìng zhí fēi wǎng běi jīng, bú zài shàng hǎi tíng liú.
    The plane flies directly to Beijing without stopping in Shanghai.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

径jìngdirect
直zhístraight

径 and 直 both convey a straight, direct line, so the word means directly without detours.

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 徑; 径 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
彳彳chì
Sound part声符shēngfú
巠
巠jīng徑
Same sound today

The traditional form 徑 is built from 彳 and 巠, with 巠 giving the sound; the simplified 径 is a later shorthand, so its parts are not the historical pieces.

Open 径 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

The earliest form of 直 pairs 目, an eye, with an unclear stroke 丨.

Open 直 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Directions

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