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zhí 直 yán 言 bù 不 huì 讳

直言不讳 zhí yán bù huì

to speak bluntly; frank and outspoken

Literally: straight speak not avoid

Intermediate 💬 Speech & communication
🃏 Practise intermediate chengyu

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Origin

From the Book of Jin, praising an official who 'spoke directly without avoiding taboo'.

How to use it

Adverbial or predicate; positive to neutral. Often 直言不讳地说/指出.

Example sentences

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  1. 他直言不讳地指出了报告里的错误。
    Tā zhí yán bù huì de zhǐchū le bàogào lǐ de cuòwù.
    He bluntly pointed out the mistakes in the report.
    he straight speak not avoid (particle) point-out (particle) report inside (particle) mistake
  2. 我喜欢和直言不讳的朋友交往。
    Wǒ xǐhuan hé zhí yán bù huì de péngyou jiāowǎng.
    I like having friends who speak their minds.
    I like with straight speak not avoid (particle) friend associate

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