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仗义 (zhàng yì) — to act out of a sense of justice/loyalty (especially toward friends)

Definition

Mostly used as 仗义(的) to describe someone loyal and willing to help friends, especially in tough situations. Often paired with 讲 to form the set phrase 仗义执言, 'to speak up for someone.'

verb
to act out of a sense of justice/loyalty (especially toward friends)

Examples

  • 仗义，。
    Tā zhè ge rén hěn zhàng yì, péng you yǒu shì tā yí dìng bāng máng.
    He is very loyal — when friends need help, he always helps.
  • ，。
    Wǒ wèi tā zhàng le yí cì yì, tā dào xiàn zài hái jì de.
    I stood up for him once out of loyalty, and he still remembers it to this day.
  • 仗义！
    Nǐ zhè yàng zuò tài bú zhàng yì le!
    What you did is so disloyal!

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

仗zhàngrely on
义yìrighteousness

Relying on 义 makes a person act with loyalty and justice.

Characters in this word

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 仗 →

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 →
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Personality & Traits

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