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天经地义 (tiān jīng dì yì) — perfectly natural and right; a matter of course; beyond question

Definition

A four-character idiom meaning 'perfectly right, beyond question' — used for truths or duties that feel absolutely self-evident, like filial duty or obeying the law. Often modifies 是…的 to flag something as a matter of course.

phrase
perfectly natural and righta matter of coursebeyond question

Examples

  • ，，天经地义。
    Fù mǔ yǎng yù zǐ nǚ, zǐ nǚ xiào shùn fù mǔ, zhè shì tiān jīng dì yì de.
    Parents raise their children and children are filial to their parents — this is only right and proper.
  • 天经地义。
    Zūn shǒu fǎ lǜ shì měi gè gōng mín tiān jīng dì yì de yì wù.
    Obeying the law is a matter-of-course duty for every citizen.
  • ，天经地义。
    Zài wén míng shè huì lǐ, zūn zhòng tā rén shì tiān jīng dì yì de shì qing.
    In a civilized society, respecting others is a perfectly natural thing.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

天经heaven's canon
天tiānheaven经jīngcanon
偏正Modifier + head
地义earth's principle
地dìearth义yìprinciple
偏正Modifier + head

天经 and 地义 stand side by side, heaven's canon and earth's principle, meaning unquestionably right.

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
大大dà
Sound part声符shēngfú
丁
丁dīng天tiān
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The shape comes from a frontal standing man 大 with a head; 天 pairs 大 with 丁 for sound.

Open 天 →

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 經; 经 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
糹Written in full as糸mìsilk; thread
Sound part声符shēngfú
巠
巠jīng經jīng
Same sound today

The traditional form 經 combines 糹 (silk; thread) with 巠, which gives the sound.

Open 经 →

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
土土tǔearth
Sound part声符shēngfú
也
也yě地dì
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

地 is built from 土 (earth) and 也, which gives its sound.

Open 地 →

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 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9

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