耿直

• Pinyin: gěng zhí
• Desglose de hanzi: 耿 = 耳 + 火 (bright-eared, morally alert); 直 = 十 + 目 + 一 (seeing straight)

Significado

Franco y recto; sincero (a veces hasta brusco).

A positive character trait in Chinese culture implying moral uprightness and sincerity. Can sometimes imply social inflexibility. Often used to describe older generation figures.

Ejemplos

1. 他为人耿直，从不说违心话。
2. 老局长是个耿直的人，敢于直言。
3. 耿直的性格让他在官场上吃了不少苦。

Guía de uso

Contexto: character description, workplace, literature

Tono: positive

Correcto

• 他是个耿直的人，有话直说，从不拐弯抹角。(He is a candid man who speaks his mind directly without beating around the bush.)
• 她耿直的性格赢得了同事们的信任。(Her straightforward nature earned her colleagues' trust.)

Incorrecto

• 耿直 as a criticism alone — in context it is almost always a compliment; use 固执 or 莽撞 when the bluntness causes harm

Origen e historia

耿 = bright, upright (phonosemantic); 直 = straight, upright

Contexto cultural

Generación: Older generations

Contexto social: Universal