大是大非

dàshì-dàfēi

idiom

Meanings

1 matters of fundamental right and wrong
2 issues of principle
3 major questions of truth vs. falsehood

Characters

Examples

HSK 5

他是个在大是大非问题上立场坚定的人。

Tā shì gè zài dàshì-dàfēi wèntí shàng lìchǎng jiāndìng de rén.

He's someone who stands firm on questions of principle.

HSK 7-9

在大是大非面前，不能含糊。

Zài dàshì-dàfēi miànqián, bùnéng hánhu.

On matters of fundamental right and wrong one cannot be vague.

Tips

usage

Structure: 大X大Y (big X big Y) pairs 是 ('right') with 非 ('wrong'). Reserved for serious moral/political issues - don't use for everyday disagreements. Often preceded by 在...面前 ('when facing') or 在...问题上 ('on questions of').

Stroke Order

大 dà

是 shì

非 fēi