正经人 (zhèng jīng rén) — a decent person; an upright, respectable person | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

A 正经人 is someone morally upright and respectable — emphasizes reliable character rather than outward behavior. Often used in contrast to someone who acts shady, flirtatious, or untrustworthy.

noun

a decent personan uprightrespectable person

Examples

正经人。
Tā kàn qǐ lái bú xiàng zhèng jīng rén.
He doesn't look like a decent person.
正经人，。
Nǐ shì gè zhèng jīng rén, bú huì zuò zhè zhǒng shì de.
You're a decent person; you wouldn't do this kind of thing.
，正经人。
Zài zhè bù diàn yǐng lǐ, zhǔ jué shì gè zhèng jīng rén.
In this movie, the main character is a decent person.

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.

正经decent

正zhèng经jīng

正经 (decent) and 人 (person) together name a person of decent character.

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

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.

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.

糹巠經

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.

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The shape of 人 shows a side view of a standing person, with an arm and a leg.

Appears in

People (General)Personality & Traits

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