📖 Meaning
谠言 means fair and just speech, while 直 means upright and straight. The idiom refers to words that are both morally fair and courageously direct. It describes someone who speaks the truth with righteousness and force of conviction.
📜 Origin Story
The phrase comes from Tang dynasty poet Bai Juyi's epitaph inscription for the mother of Yuan Zhen, a fellow poet and official. In it, Bai Juyi recounts that Yuan Zhen was promoted from the position of collator to left remonstrator, and within just a few months his fair words and upright voice had already stirred the entire imperial court. The line testifies to Yuan Zhen's fearless integrity as an admonishing official.
💡 Example Usage
他在朝堂上谠言直声，毫不畏惧地指陈时弊。
In the imperial court he spoke with fair and upright words, fearlessly pointing out the abuses of the times.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 谠言直声
- Pinyin: dǎng yán zhí shēng
- Literal Translation: fair words, straight voice
- Category: Communication
- Characters: 4