Definitions
Etymology
Pictograph of a straight line coming from the eye, to depict looking straight at something. The purpose of the stroke at the bottom is unclear.
About
The character 直 is an ideogrammatic compound built around the component 目 (mù), meaning “eye,” with additional strokes like 十 and 乚 suggesting a direct line of sight. This structure visually represents an eye looking straight ahead, which conveys its core meaning of being physically straight, vertical, or unbending. Over time, this literal sense of spatial straightness extended to describe actions that are direct, immediate, and straightforward. The meaning further expanded to include moral and personal qualities, representing a person who is frank, candid, honest, upright, and just in behavior and communication.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
这条路很直。
我一直很忙。
请直往前走。
他直接回家了。
他性格直爽。
垂直降落很危险。
我一直想学习中文。
他的回答非常直接。