字正腔圆

字正腔圓

zìzhèng-qiāngyuán

idiom #72,012

Meanings

1 characters correct, tone round
2 to enunciate precisely and pleasingly (in speaking or singing)

Characters

character; syllable

correct; upright

vocal tone; tune

Examples

HSK 2

她说普通话字正腔圆。

Tā shuō Pǔtōnghuà zìzhèngqiāngyuán.

She speaks Mandarin with perfect, round enunciation.

HSK 4

京剧演员讲究字正腔圆。

Jīngjù yǎnyuán jiǎngjiu zìzhèngqiāngyuán.

Peking opera performers place great emphasis on precise, rounded delivery.

HSK 7-9

这位播音员字正腔圆，听起来很舒服。

Zhèwèi bōyīnyuán zìzhèngqiāngyuán, tīngqǐlái hěn shūfu.

This announcer enunciates crisply and roundly, a pleasure to listen to.

Tips

culture

A technical standard in Peking opera 京剧 and later in broadcasting training. 字正 refers to correct articulation of each syllable, 腔圆 to full, resonant tone. CCTV news anchors are textbook examples.

usage

Compliment only, never sarcastic. Applies to singing and formal or public speaking, not everyday chatter.

Stroke Order

字 zì

正 zhèng

腔 qiāng

圆 yuán