TongTong
Sign in

端正 (duān zhèng) — (adjective) upright, regular, proper (of character, handwriting, attitude, etc.); (verb) to correct, to rectify, to straighten

Definition

Adjective: describes a person's character, attitude, or handwriting as upright and proper — applied to people, not objects. Verb: 'to correct' one's attitude or behavior, gentler than 矫正 (which fixes physical defects like teeth or posture).

adjective
uprightregularproper (of character, handwriting, attitude, etc.)
verb
to correctto rectifyto straighten

Examples

  • 端正，。
    Tā bàn shì duān zhèng, lǐng dǎo hěn fàng xīn.
    He handles matters properly, so the leadership trusts him.
  • 端正。
    Nǐ bì xū duān zhèng xué xí tài dù.
    You must correct your attitude toward studying.
  • 端正。
    Tā de zì xiě dé hěn duān zhèng.
    Her handwriting is very neat and regular.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

端duānupright
正zhèngstraight

端 'upright' and 正 'straight' combine to mean proper or correct.

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
立立lì
Sound part声符shēngfú
耑
耑zhuān端duān
Same sound today

端 is made by putting 立 beside 耑. The 立 part is connected to the meaning, and 耑 gives the sound.

Open 端 →

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 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9HSK 2.0 Level 6Personality & TraitsGood & Bad

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