行侠仗义
xíng xiá zhàng yì
to fight for the weak and uphold justice
Character by character
行xíng
act
act
侠xiá
chivalrous
chivalrous
仗zhàng
uphold
uphold
义yì
justice
justice
Example
他从小就有一个行侠仗义的梦，长大后当了一名警察。
Since childhood he had dreamed of righting wrongs, and when he grew up he became a policeman.
Tone: positive (praise).
Usage and origin
The creed of every wuxia hero. Today said of anyone who steps in to help, often half in jest; its everyday cousin is 路见不平，拔刀相助 (see a wrong on the road, draw your sword to help).
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.
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