直 (zhí) — (adjective) straight; frank; fair; (adverb) straight; directly; continuously (used before verbs); (verb) to straighten, to make straight
Definition
直 is the basic word for 'straight / directly' (直线, 直走) and, for people, 'frank and upright'. 一直 focuses on continuous action ('keep doing'); 竖 and 垂直 are specifically vertical/upright.
adjective
straightfrankfair
adverb
straightdirectlycontinuously (used before verbs)
verb
to straightento make straight
Easily confused
Examples
- 直。Zhè tiáo hé hěn zhí.This river is very straight.
- 直，。Qǐng zhí zǒu, rán hòu yòu zhuǎn.Please go straight, then turn right.
- 直Tā zhí le yí xià yāoShe straightened her back for a moment.
Origin
Compound ideograph六书liùshū
会意huìyìTwo or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.
- 目目mùeye
- 丨丨gǔn?
The earliest form of 直 pairs 目, an eye, with an unclear stroke 丨.
Appears in
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