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直接 (zhí jiē) — direct; immediate; straightforward

Definition

Adjective: 'direct / straightforward' — describes a person, manner, or method that is frank and without detour. Unlike the adverb 立刻 ('right away'), 直接 here is HOW something is done, not WHEN.

adjective
directimmediatestraightforward

Examples

  • 直接。
    Nǐ kě yǐ zhí jiē lái zhǎo wǒ.
    You can come find me directly.
  • 直接，。
    Zhè ge wèn tí hěn zhí jiē, bú yòng xiǎng tài jiǔ.
    This question is straightforward, no need to think too long.
  • 直接。
    Qǐng zhí jiē huí dá wǒ de wèn tí.
    Please answer my question directly.

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.

直zhístraight
接jiēconnect

The parts 直 and 接 combine as straight and connect, giving the sense of a connection without an intermediary.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

The earliest form of 直 pairs 目, an eye, with an unclear stroke 丨.

Open 直 →

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
扌Written in full as手shǒu
Sound part声符shēngfú
妾
妾qiè接jiē
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The left part 扌 shows a hand, matching the sense of receiving something in the hand, while 妾 gives the character its sound.

Open 接 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 4HSK 2.0 Level 41000 Most Frequent Chinese Words2000 Most Frequent Chinese Words3000 Most Frequent Chinese Words5000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

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