直言不讳

zhí yán bù huì

to speak bluntly; not to mince one's words

Character by character

直zhí
straight

言yán
words

不bù
not

讳huì
avoid

他直言不讳地指出了方案的问题。

He pointed out the plan's problems without mincing words.

Tone: neutral.

讳 = avoid a taboo. More formal than 有话直说. Opposite: 拐弯抹角.

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