名正言顺
míng zhèng yán shùn
Proper justification · trad. 名正言順
Describes a situation where one's status, title, or justification is legitimate and proper, making their actions or statements valid and beyond dispute. It implies that everything is in order and fully justified, leaving no room for challenge.
What does 名正言顺 (míng zhèng yán shùn) mean?
名正言顺 (míng zhèng yán shùn) means "proper justification" in English. Word for word, it breaks down as "the name is proper, the words are reasonable."
Character by character
- 名 míng name, title, status
- 正 zhèng correct, proper, just
- 言 yán words, speech, statement
- 顺 shùn smooth, logical, reasonable
When to use it
Chinese speakers use this to emphasize that something is done with complete legitimacy and authority, leaving no room for challenge. It often applies to official appointments, decisions, or actions that are fully compliant with rules or moral principles, and is a formal or semi-formal expression.
Example
他名正言顺地当上了校教务处处长。
Tā míng zhèng yán shùn de dāngshàng le xiào jiàowùchù chùzhǎng.
He legitimately became the director of the school's academic affairs office.
Pro tip: The '顺' in this idiom emphasizes that because the '名' (status or justification) is correct, any accompanying actions or statements are naturally logical, reasonable, and therefore accepted without question. It highlights the consequence of proper legitimacy.
Related idioms
马马虎虎 · Careless and sloppy闷闷不乐 · Gloomy and unhappy莫名其妙 · Inexplicable strange behavior
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