Definition
是非曲直 is a four-character set phrase (成语) that literally means 'right, wrong, crooked, straight' but idiomatically refers to the full truth or the rights and wrongs of a situation. It's used when you want to emphasize that the objective facts or the correct judgment of a matter should be clarified, often in contexts of disputes, investigations, or moral evaluations. It functions as a noun phrase and is common in formal or written Chinese.
f.e.
the rights and wrongs of a matterthe objective truth or merits of a case
Examples
- 是非曲直，。Zhè jiàn shì de shì fēi qū zhí, wǒmen yídìng yào chá qīngchu.We must investigate the rights and wrongs of this matter thoroughly.
- 是非曲直。Fǎlǜ huì gōngzhèng de pànduàn shì fēi qū zhí.The law will judge the rights and wrongs fairly.
- ，，是非曲直。Zài zhēnglùn zhōng, búyào zhǐ kàn biǎomiàn, yào liǎojiě shì fēi qū zhí.In an argument, don't just look at the surface; understand the full truth.
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