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正襟危坐

Mandarin · pinyin zhèng jīn wēi zuò

to sit upright and still (idiom)

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Characters in this entry

正: zhèng · right, proper, correct
襟: jīn · lapel, collar
危: wēi · dangerous, precarious; high; 12th lunar mansion, determinative star α Aquarii (Sadalmelik)
坐: zuò · sit; seat; ride, travel by

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

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Mandarin tones

4–1–1–4 · zheng4 jin1 wei1 zuo4

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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.

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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) to sit straight solemnly

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

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