righteous and severe in speech; stern but just
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesidiom
righteous in principle and severe in wording; to speak out with compelling moral force and dignified severity
formalOften used to describe someone speaking out firmly against injustice or wrongdoing, especially in formal, legal, or diplomatic contexts. Variant form: 义正词严.
Tā他
yì义
zhèng正
cí辞
yán严
de地
bó驳
chì斥
le了
duì对
fāng方
de的
miù谬
lùn论
。
He refuted the opponent's fallacy with righteous severity.
Fǎ法
guān官
yì义
zhèng正
cí辞
yán严
de地
xuān宣
dú读
le了
pàn判
jué决
shū书
。
The judge read out the verdict with solemn authority.
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Miàn面
duì对
bù不
shí实
zhǐ指
kòng控
，
tā他
yì义
zhèng正
cí辞
yán严
de地
wèi为
zì自
jǐ己
biàn辩
hù护
。
Faced with false accusations, he defended himself with compelling moral force.
Zhè这
piān篇
shè社
lùn论
yǔ语
diào调
yì义
zhèng正
cí辞
yán严
，
zhì掷
dì地
yǒu有
shēng声
。
This editorial had a tone of righteous severity that resonated powerfully.