正人君子
正人君子 (zhèng rén jūn zǐ) literally means “upright gentleman” and expresses “ostentatiously virtuous — now usually sarcastic”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving relationships and character.
Also searched as: zheng ren jun zi, zheng ren jun zi,正人君子 meaning, 正人君子 in english
Ostentatiously virtuous — now usually sarcastic
Pronunciation: zhèng rén jūn zǐ Literal meaning: Upright gentleman
Origin & Usage
An upright person (正人), a gentleman (君子) — the compound is old and was straightforwardly complimentary, describing the scholar-official who behaved as the training was supposed to make him behave. Its modern life is almost entirely sarcastic. Said today, 正人君子 usually means someone conspicuously performing rectitude, and the more solemn the delivery the more certain the irony. Learners should treat it as unusable as praise: to compliment integrity, Chinese has 德高望重 or simply 正直, and this phrase will be heard as an accusation.
Examples
English: "He is regarded as a virtuous gentleman who always acts with honor and respect."
Chinese: 他被视为正人君子，总是以荣誉和尊重行事。
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about relationships & character
赤子之心
chì zǐ zhī xīn
Pure and sincere heart
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守正不阿
shǒu zhèng bù ē
Keep integrity without compromise
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改邪归正
gǎi xié guī zhèng
Return to righteousness
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风华正茂
fēng huá zhèng mào
At peak of youth's ability
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言归正传
yán guī zhèng zhuàn
Focus on main point
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不务正业
bù wù zhèng yè
Idle and irresponsible
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待人热情
dài rén rè qíng
Treat others with genuine warmth and enthusiasm
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乐于助人
lè yú zhù rén
Find genuine pleasure in helping others
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 正人君子 mean in English?
正人君子 (zhèng rén jūn zǐ) literally translates to “Upright gentleman” and is used to express “Ostentatiously virtuous — now usually sarcastic”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Relationships & Character category.
When is 正人君子 used?
Situation: He is regarded as a virtuous gentleman who always acts with honor and respect.
What is the pinyin for 正人君子?
The pinyin pronunciation for 正人君子 is “zhèng rén jūn zǐ”.