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一本正經

简一本正经 · 繁一本正經

Mandarin · pinyin yī běn zhèng jīng

(idiom) in deadly earnest; deadpan

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Characters in this entry

一: yī · one; a, an; alone
本: běn · root, origin, source; basis
正: zhèng · right, proper, correct
經: Look up this written character
经: jīng · classic works; pass through

Written characters and their own readings; the entry’s pronunciation is shown above.

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Mandarin tones

1–3–4–1 · yi1 ben3 zheng4 jing1

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Read this spelling in Classical texts

Follow a written form into the eight pinned witnesses: Analects, Mencius, Laozi, Zhuangzi, Xunzi, Han Feizi, Sunzi and the Mao Shijing. A match is a place to investigate; it does not prove that a modern dictionary sense fits the passage.

一本正經 · find source passages ↗ · 一本正经 · find source passages ↗

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Compare dictionary sources Wiktionary · 2 senses · 1 Cantonese reading

Rime Cantonese 粵拼

jat1 bun2 zing3 ging1

Cantonese word readings for 一本正經. This lexicon supplies readings, not definitions.

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Wiktionary English definitions · Chinese section

Independent source senses for this spelling, with usage labels retained. Not matched to the pronunciation above.

phrase

(idiomatic) absolutely serious; dead earnest
(idiomatic) deadpan; with a poker face

Source page · dump 2026-09-02 · Contributors & history

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