直苗苗

zhímiáomiáo

adjective

Meanings

1 ramrod-straight (and often slender)
2 upright and forthright (of character)

Characters

seedling / sprout

seedling / sprout

Examples

那几棵小树直苗苗地立在路边。

Nà jǐ kē xiǎoshù zhímiáomiáo de lì zài lù biān.

The young trees stood ramrod-straight along the road.

他为人直苗苗的，从不拐弯抹角。

Tā wéirén zhímiáomiáo de, cóng bù guǎiwānmòjiǎo.

He's straight as a rod, never one to beat around the bush.

Tips

memory

苗 = seedling. Picture a row of young sprouts reaching straight up for the sun — the same image Chinese uses for both a straight stance and a straight character.

Stroke Order

直 zhí

苗 miáo