正路 (zhèng lù) — the right path; correct course (of action)

Definition

A noun meaning the morally or practically correct way of doing things — typically paired with 走 to mean 'take the right path', contrasted with 歪门邪道 ('crooked, underhand ways').

noun
the right pathcorrect course (of action)

Examples

  • 正路，。
    Tā zuò shì yí xiàng zǒu zhèng lù, cóng bù zǒu wāi mén xié dào.
    He always takes the right path and never takes crooked ways.
  • 正路，。
    Zuò shēng yi yào zǒu zhèng lù, bù néng tóu jī qǔ qiǎo.
    In business, you must follow the right course, not cut corners.
  • 正路，。
    Zhǐ yào wǒ men jiān chí zǒu zhèng lù, jiù yí dìng huì chéng gōng.
    As long as we stick to the right path, we will surely succeed.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

正zhèngcorrect
路lùpath

正 gives correctness and 路 a path, together meaning the right path.

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.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
足足zú
Sound part声符shēngfú
各
各gè路lù
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

路 combines 足, a foot, with 各, which supplies the sound.

Open 路 →

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