直在其中矣

zhízàiqízhōngyǐ

phrase

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

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 gāo yú lǜtiáo.

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

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