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jiàn 见 yì 义 yǒng 勇 wéi 为

见义勇为 jiàn yì yǒng wéi

to act bravely for a just cause; to step in when one sees wrong being done

Literally: see righteousness bravely do

Intermediate 🧭 Character & virtue
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Origin

From the Analects: 'To see what is right and not do it is cowardice', later turned into the positive 见义勇为.

How to use it

Predicate or attributive; positive. Often 见义勇为的英雄.

Example sentences

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  1. 他见义勇为，跳进河里救起了一个落水的老人。
    Tā jiàn yì yǒng wéi, tiào jìn hé lǐ jiùqǐ le yī gè luòshuǐ de lǎorén.
    He bravely did what was right and jumped into the river to save a drowning old man.
    he see righteousness bravely do, jump into river inside rescue-up (particle) one (measure) fall-water (particle) old-person
  2. 市政府给这位见义勇为的青年发了奖金。
    Shì zhèngfǔ gěi zhè wèi jiàn yì yǒng wéi de qīngnián fā le jiǎngjīn.
    The city government awarded a prize to this young man who acted bravely for justice.
    city government give this (measure) see righteousness bravely do (particle) youth issue (particle) prize-money

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