中肯

zhòngkěn

adjective #34,033

Meanings

1 apt
2 pertinent
3 hitting the mark (of a comment or criticism)

Characters

to hit; to strike

the crucial point

Examples

他的评论非常中肯。

Tā de pínglùn fēicháng zhòngkěn.

His comment hits the nail on the head.

老师给了一些中肯的建议。

Lǎoshī gěi le yìxiē zhòngkěn de jiànyì.

The teacher offered some pertinent suggestions.

Tips

memory

Note the reading is 'zhòng' (fourth tone, as in 'to hit') not 'zhōng' (middle). Literally 'to strike the essential point' — the 肯 here carries the classical sense of 'bone joint / crucial spot.'

Stroke Order

中 zhōng

肯 kěn