adjective HSK 5
Traditional 仗義
righteous · loyal and ready to help others · to uphold justice
Meaning
仗义 describes someone who is morally upright and willing to stand up for what's right, especially helping friends or strangers in need. It carries connotations of chivalry, loyalty, and selflessly defending justice or assisting others without expecting anything in return.
Usage
Commonly used to praise someone's character, especially when they help others at personal cost. Often appears in phrases like 仗义疏财 (generous with money to help others). The term has traditional martial arts and brotherhood associations, evoking heroes who fight for the weak.
Examples
- 01他真仗义，二话不说就借给我钱了。, .He's really righteous—he lent me money without a second thought.
- 02路见不平仗义相助是中华民族的传统美德。.Helping those in need when witnessing injustice is a traditional virtue of the Chinese people.
Characters
Common collocations
- 仗义疏财generous in helping others with money
- 仗义执言to speak out for justice
- 很仗义very loyal/righteous
Antonyms
Origin
仗 originally meant 'to rely on' or 'to wield (a weapon)', while 义 means 'righteousness'. Together they mean 'to rely on righteousness' or 'to wield justice'.