ji6 zing3 ci4 jim4義正詞嚴义正词严

Jyutpingji6 zing3 ci4 jim4

Yaleyih jing chìh yìhm

Definition

To speak sternly and forcefully out of a strong sense of justice and righteousness.

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How it's used

This idiom carries a strong sense of moral authority and is often used to describe someone defending a principle or confronting wrongdoing. While it sounds formal, it is frequently used in news reports or dramatic storytelling to highlight the gravity of a speaker's stance. Be aware that it can also be used sarcastically to mock someone who sounds self-righteous while being hypocritical.

Examples

keoi5佢ji6義zing3正ci4詞jim4嚴gam3咁naau6鬧zau2走go2嗰go3個pin3騙zi2子。

He sternly scolded the scammer away with righteous indignation.

nei5你dim2點gaai2解ho2可ji5以ji6義zing3正ci4詞jim4嚴gong2講daai6大waa6話㗎？

How can you tell lies with such a righteous tone?

Common phrases

ji6義zing3正ci4詞jim4嚴gam3咁gong2講

to speak in a righteous and stern manner

ji6義zing3正ci4詞jim4嚴ge3嘅taai3態dou6度

a righteous and stern attitude

Common mistake

Learners often mistake this for a casual way to say someone is angry, but it specifically implies the speaker believes they are on the side of justice or truth. Using it to describe simple annoyance or a petty argument will sound overly dramatic or unnatural.