Definition
直言 means 'to speak bluntly' or 'to be frank'. It is often used in formal contexts, especially when prefacing a critical or honest remark. A common phrase is 恕我直言 (shù wǒ zhí yán), meaning 'excuse me for being blunt'. As a verb, 直言 does not take a direct object; instead, it is followed by a clause or used adverbially.
v.
to speak bluntlyto be frank
Examples
- 直言，。Shù wǒ zhí yán, nǐ de fāng'àn hái yǒu wèntí.Excuse me for being blunt, but your plan still has problems.
- 直言，。Tā gǎnyú zhí yán, bú pà dézuì rén.He dares to speak bluntly and is not afraid of offending people.
- ，直言。Zài huìyì shàng, tā zhí yán zhǐ chū le wèntí de guānjiàn.At the meeting, he bluntly pointed out the key to the problem.
Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.