理直气壮

lǐ zhí qì zhuàng

HSK 2.0 Level 6 HSK 3.0 Level 7 Rare

Definitions

1. to have the courage of one's convictions
2. just and forceful

Word relationships

Antonyms

1 item

• 理屈词穷 lǐ qū cí qióng 理屈词穷 lǐ qū cí qióng lit. having presented a flawed argument, one has nothing further to add (idiom) 理由已被驳倒，无话可说: lit. having presented a flawed argument, one has nothing further to add (idiom)

Related words

2 items

• 振振有词 zhèn zhèn yǒu cí 振振有词 zhèn zhèn yǒu cí to speak forcefully and with justice (idiom); to argue with the courage of one's convictions 形容理由似乎很充分，说个不停: to speak forcefully and with justice (idiom); to argue with the courage of one's convictions
• 当仁不让 dāng rén bù ràng 当仁不让 dāng rén bù ràng to be unwilling to pass on one's responsibilities to others 遇到应该做的事就积极主动去做，不推让: to be unwilling to pass on one's responsibilities to others

Usage notes

Collocations

常与“地说”搭配，如“理直气壮地说”，表示说话时信心十足、理由充分的样子。

Common mistakes

不要把“理直气壮”误解为“气势汹汹”，它强调有理所以态度严正，而不是态度凶暴。

Example Sentences

1 shown

他 理直气壮 地回答了老师的问题。

He answered the teacher's question with the courage of his convictions.

AI-generated examples are marked with this icon.

Child Words of 理直气壮

• 壮 壮 zhuàng: Zhuang ethnic group of Guangxi, the PRC's second most numerous ethnic group
• 气 气 qì: gas; air
• 理 理 lǐ: texture
• 直 直 zhí: straight