心直口快
心直口快 (xīn zhí kǒu kuài) literally means “straight heart, fast mouth” and expresses “frank and outspoken”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving relationships and character.
Also searched as: xin zhi kou kuai, xin zhi kou kuai,心直口快 meaning, 心直口快 in english
Frank and outspoken
Pronunciation: xīn zhí kǒu kuài Literal meaning: Straight heart, fast mouth
Origin & Usage
A straight (直) heart (心) and a quick (快) mouth (口). The phrase is genuinely double-edged and Chinese uses both edges freely. As praise it describes someone who will tell you the truth and can be relied on not to be managing you. As criticism, or as a pre-emptive excuse, it describes someone who says the damaging thing before considering it — and 我这人心直口快 is very often an apology issued in advance for what is about to be said.
Examples
English: "He is known for his blunt honesty, often saying exactly what he thinks without hesitation."
Chinese: 他以直言不讳而闻名，常常毫不犹豫地说出自己的想法。
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about relationships & character
大快人心
dà kuài rén xīn
Satisfaction at a wrong being punished
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快马加鞭
kuài mǎ jiā biān
Accelerate progress
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口是心非
kǒu shì xīn fēi
Words differ from thoughts
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苦口婆心
kǔ kǒu pó xīn
Patient, sincere advice
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直捣黄龙
zhí dǎo huáng lóng
Strike directly at the heart of enemy territory
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扶摇直上
fú yáo zhí shàng
Rise rapidly; soar straight up
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青云直上
qīng yún zhí shàng
Rise quickly to high position
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勇往直前
yǒng wǎng zhí qián
Persevere with courage
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 心直口快 mean in English?
心直口快 (xīn zhí kǒu kuài) literally translates to “Straight heart, fast mouth” and is used to express “Frank and outspoken”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Relationships & Character category.
When is 心直口快 used?
Situation: He is known for his blunt honesty, often saying exactly what he thinks without hesitation.
What is the pinyin for 心直口快?
The pinyin pronunciation for 心直口快 is “xīn zhí kǒu kuài”.