侠肝义胆
xiá gān yì dǎn
a hero’s heart: brave and loyal, ready to risk oneself for others
Character by character
侠xiá
chivalrous
chivalrous
肝gān
liver
liver
义yì
righteous
righteous
胆dǎn
gall
gall
Example
这位司机侠肝义胆，几次跳进河里救人。
The driver has a hero’s heart: more than once he has jumped into the river to save someone.
Tone: positive (praise).
Usage and origin
Liver and gall bladder were the seats of courage and sincerity in traditional thought (compare 胆子 courage, 肝胆相照 utter frankness between friends). Strong praise, usually in writing or speeches about real rescuers.
Learn this in Lesson 224 · HSK 9+: 金庸与江湖 (Jin Yong and the world of the jianghu)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
Open the lesson →