直在其中矣

zhí zài qí zhōng yǐ

quotation

Meanings

1 straightness lies within it
2 true uprightness is already contained (in a father and son covering for each other) - Confucius's paradoxical answer

Characters

uprightness; straight

(classical final particle)

Examples

HSK 7-9

孔子的直在其中矣，其实讲的是亲情高于律条。

Kǒngzǐ de zhí zài qí zhōng yǐ, qíshí jiǎng de shì qīnqíng gāoyú lǜtiáo.

Confucius's 'uprightness lies within' actually says family bonds rank above legal rules.

HSK 7-9

他引用直在其中矣，说明家人不该互相举报。

Tā yǐnyòng zhí zài qí zhōng yǐ, shuōmíng jiārén bù gāi hùxiāng jǔbào.

He quoted 'uprightness lies within' to argue family members shouldn't denounce each other.

Tips

history

From 《论语·子路》. A man of She boasted 'our upright ones testify when their father steals.' Confucius replied: 父为子隐，子为父隐，直在其中矣 - 'the father conceals for the son, the son conceals for the father - uprightness lies within that.' A foundational text in Chinese debates on law vs. family loyalty.

usage

矣 (yǐ) is a classical final particle of assertion, like modern 了. Only meaningful when quoted with the preceding 父为子隐，子为父隐. Still heavily cited in Chinese legal philosophy.

Stroke Order

直 zhí

在 zài

其 qí

中 zhōng

矣 yǐ