Chinese–EnglishWith examples

直言

zhí yán · zhi yan

Same in simplified and traditional Chinese

Meaning

CC-CEDICT
  1. to speak forthrightly
  2. to talk bluntly
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In a conversation

0:16 cartoon

Speak frankly

  1. Liangliang

    灯灯(dēngdēng)，我(wǒ)写了(xiěle)一首(yīshǒu)诗(shī)，请(qǐng)你(nǐ)直言(zhíyán)。

    Dengdeng, I wrote a poem. Please be frank with me.

  2. Dengdeng

    你(nǐ)真的(zhēnde)要(yào)我(wǒ)直言(zhíyán)吗(ma)？

    Do you really want me to speak frankly?

  3. Liangliang

    要(yào)！朋友(péngyou)就(jiù)应该(yīnggāi)直言(zhíyán)。

    Yes! Friends should speak frankly.

  4. Dengdeng

    那(nà)我(wǒ)直言(zhíyán)：我(wǒ)一句(yījù)也(yě)没(méi)听懂(tīngdǒng)。

    Then frankly: I did not understand one line.

  5. Liangliang

    太好了(tàihǎole)，现代诗(xiàndàishī)就是(jiùshì)这样(zhèyàng)！

    Great, that is how modern poetry is!

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In a sentence

2 examples
01

他(tā)直(zhí)言(yán)不(bú)讳(huì)地(de)指(zhǐ)出(chū)了(le)计(jì)划(huà)中(zhōng)的(de)问(wèn)题(tí)。

He bluntly pointed out the problems in the plan.

02

朋(péng)友(yǒu)之(zhī)间(jiān)应(yīng)该(gāi)直(zhí)言(yán)相(xiāng)告(gào)，不(bú)必(bì)隐(yǐn)瞒(mán)。

Friends should speak frankly to each other and not hide anything.

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Mainland China stroke order, including traditional characters. Drawing sources & licenses.

Definitions adapted from CC-CEDICT, published by MDBG and its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Pinyin display and entry grouping have been adapted.

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