一本正经

一本正經
yìběn-zhèngjīng
idiom #21,181

Meanings

  1. 1 deadly serious
  2. 2 in all seriousness
  3. 3 with a straight face
  4. 4 prim and proper

Examples

HSK 4
Tā yìběn-zhèngjīng de gàosù wǒ nàge xiàohua shì zhēnde.
He told me with a completely straight face that the joke was real.
HSK 4
Bié yìběn-zhèngjīng de, fàngqīngsōng yìdiǎn.
Stop being so deadly serious - relax a little.
HSK 7-9
Tā yìběn-zhèngjīng de jiěshì le bàntiān, dàjiā dōu biē zhù le xiào.
She explained at length with an utterly straight face, and everyone suppressed their laughter.

Tips

usage
一本正经 often carries a slightly comic or ironic flavor - it describes someone who is being overly formal or solemn, especially when the context does not call for it. It can also describe genuine seriousness.

Stroke Order

běn
zhèng
jīng