Usage of the character 正

to set sth upright or straight
to promote an employee from part-time to full-time (or from deputy to principal)
(old) to raise from concubine to wife status

zhènggǎng

正港

[正港]

(Tw) (slang) authentic; genuine (from Taiwanese, Tai-lo pr. (tsiànn-káng))

zhèngcān

正餐

[正餐]

(regular) meal
full meal
main course

zhèngdiǎn

正点

[正點]

(of a train etc) on time; punctual
(slang) awesome
(Tw) on the hour

zhèngzé

正则

[正則]

regular (figure in geometry)

zhèngjiāo

正交

[正交]

orthogonality

zhèngfǎ

正法

[正法]

to execute
the law

zhèngjí

正极

[正極]

positive pole

zhèngzháo

正着

[正著]

head-on
red-handed

zhèngzōng

正宗

[正宗]

orthodox school
fig. traditional
old school
authentic
genuine

zhèngrú

正如

[正如]

just as
precisely as

zhèngxiàng

正象

[正象]

to be just like

zhèngběn

正本

[正本]

original (of a document)
reserved copy (of a library book)

zhènghào

正号

[正號]

(math.) plus sign (+)

yǎzhèng

雅正

[雅正]

correct (literary)
upright
(hon.) Please point out my shortcomings.
I await your esteemed corrections.

zhènggǔ

正骨

[正骨]

bonesetting
Chinese osteopathy

zhèngfù

正负

[正負]

positive and negative

zhèngbù

正步

[正步]

goose-step (for military parades)

zhèngwǔ

正午

[正午]

midday
noon
noonday

zhèngdào

正道

[正道]

the correct path
the right way (Buddhism)

zhèngxiàng

正向

[正向]

forward (direction)
positive (thinking, mood, values etc)

zhèngzhí

正职

[正職]

main job
day job
steady full-time job (as opposed to temporary or casual)
chief or principal post (as opposed to deputy)

zhèngshì

正式

[正式]

formal; official

zhèngkǎi

正楷

[正楷]

regular script (Chinese calligraphic style)

zhèngcháng

正常

[正常]

regular
normal
ordinary

Yōngzhèng

雍正

[雍正]

Yongzheng, reign name of Qing emperor (1722-1735)

bózhèng

驳正

[駁正]

to refute and correct

zhèngpǐn

正品

[正品]

certified goods
quality product
normal product
A-class goods

zhèngdàn

正旦

[正旦]

starring female role in a Chinese opera

zōngzhèng

宗正

[宗正]

Director of the Imperial Clan in imperial China, one of the Nine Ministers 九卿 (jiǔqīng)

zhèngbǎn

正版

[正版]

genuine
legal
see also 盜版／盗版 (dàobǎn)

zhèngxián

正弦

[正弦]

(math.) sine

zhèngshēng

正生

[正生]

starring male role in a Chinese opera

zhèngyǎn

正眼

[正眼]

facing directly (with one's eyes)
(to look sb) in the eyes

bōzhèng

拨正

[撥正]

to set right
to correct

kuāngzhèng

匡正

[匡正]

to correct
to amend
to redress (evils)

gēngzhèng

更正

[更正]

to correct
to make a correction

zhèngzhèng

正正

[正正]

neat
orderly
just in time

zhèngshǐ

正史

[正史]

the 24 or 25 official dynastic histories
true history, as opposed to fictional adaptation or popular legends

Hán Zhèng

韩正

[韓正]

Han Zheng (1954-), senior vice premier of the PRC (2018-)

zhèngdiàn

正殿

[正殿]

main hall of a Buddhist temple

Dàzhèng

大正

[大正]

Taishō, Japanese era name, corresponding to the reign (1912-1926) of emperor Yoshihito 嘉仁 ( Jiārén)

zhèngtǐ

正体

[正體]

standard form (of a Chinese character)
plain font style (as opposed to bold or italic)
printed style (as opposed to cursive)
(Tw) traditional (i.e. unsimplified) characters

Zhèngyáng

正阳

[正陽]

Zhengyang county in Zhumadian 駐馬店／驻马店 ( Zhùmǎdiàn), Henan

zhèngpài

正派

[正派]

upright

zhèngwén

正文

[正文]

main text (as opposed to footnotes)
main body (of a book)

zhèngrén

正人

[正人]

upstanding person
upright person

duānzhèng

端正

[端正]

upright
regular
proper
correct

zhuǎnzhèng

转正

[轉正]

to transfer to full membership
to obtain tenure

zhèngzhōng

正中

[正中]

middle
center
right in the middle or center
nub

jūzhèng

居正

[居正]

(literary) to follow the right path

zhèngtǒng

正统

[正統]

orthodoxy; tradition
orthodox; traditional
principles of dynastic succession
(of an heir) legitimate

zhèngyì

正义

[正義]

justice
righteousness
just
righteous

jiàozhèng

校正

[校正]

to proofread and correct
to edit and rectify
to correct
to calibrate

zhèngjī

正畸

[正畸]

orthodontics

zhènggē

正割

[正割]

secant (of angle), written sec θ

lìngzhèng

令正

[令正]

(honorific) your wife

zhèngrán

正然

[正然]

in the process of (doing something or happening)
while (doing)

zhèngguī

正规

[正規]

regular
according to standards

zhèngyīn

正音

[正音]

standard pronunciation
to correct sb's pronunciation

zhèngqiǎo

正巧

[正巧]

just by chance
to happen to (just at the right time)
opportune

zhèngtài

正太

[正太]

young, cute boy
derived from Japanese loanword shotacon 正太控 (zhèngtàikòng)

Zhèngdé

正德

[正德]

Zhengde Emperor, reign name of eleventh Ming emperor Zhu Houzhao 朱厚照 ( Zhū Hòuzhào) (1491-1521), reigned 1505-1521, temple name 明武宗 ( Míng Wǔzōng)

zhènglù

正路

[正路]

the right way

zhèngjiào

正教

[正教]

lit. true religion
orthodox religion
orthodox Christianity
Islam (in the writing of Chinese or Hui theologians)

zhèngbǐ

正比

[正比]

direct ratio
directly proportional

zhèngzǐ

正子

[正子]

positron
also called 正電子／正电子 (zhèngdiànzǐ)

lìzhèng

立正

[立正]

to stand straight
attention! (order to troops)

zhèngyì

正意

[正意]

sense (in DNA)

Xīnzhēng

新正

[新正]

see 正月 ( Zhēngyuè)

Zhèngtǒng

正统

[正統]

Zhengtong Emperor, reign name of sixth Ming Emperor Zhu Qizhen 朱祁鎮／朱祁镇 ( Zhū Qízhèn) (1427-1464), reigned 1435-1449, temple name Yingzong 英宗 ( Yīngzōng)

zhōngzhèng

中正

[中正]

fair and honest

zhèngmén

正门

[正門]

main entrance
main gate
portal

zhèngfāng

正方

[正方]

the side in favor of the proposition (in a formal debate)

zhèngqì

正气

[正氣]

healthy atmosphere; moral spirit
unyielding integrity; probity
(TCM) vital energy (resistance to diseases)

jiànzhèng

谏正

[諫正]

see 諍諫／诤谏 (zhèngjiàn)

Zhèng'ān

正安

[正安]

Zheng'an county in Zunyi 遵義／遵义 ( Zūnyì), Guizhou

zhèngshì

正视

[正視]

to face squarely; to meet head on; to face up to

gǎizhèng

改正

[改正]

to correct
to amend
to put right
correction
CL:個／个 (gè)

zhèngfáng

正房

[正房]

central building (in a traditional house)
primary wife

zhèngzhuāng

正装

[正裝]

formal dress

zhèngzhǔ

正主

[正主]

central figure
rightful owner
(slang) idol of a fan

guīzhèng

归正

[歸正]

to return to the right path
to mend one's ways
to reform
Reformed (church etc)

zhèngyào

正要

[正要]

to be just about to
to be on the point of

zhèngjù

正剧

[正劇]

bourgeois tragedy

zhèngqiē

正切

[正切]

(math.) tangent (trigonometric function)

zhèngfēng

正锋

[正鋒]

frontal attack (brush movement in painting)

zhèngjué

正角

[正角]

good guy (in a story)
hero

zhèngmíng

正名

[正名]

to replace the current name or title of sth with a new one that reflects its true nature
rectification of names (a tenet of Confucian philosophy)

gāngzhèng

刚正

[剛正]

honest
upright

zhènghǎo

正好

[正好]

just (in time)
just right
just enough
to happen to
to chance to
by chance
it just so happens that

qīngzhèng

清正

[清正]

upright and honorable

zhèngsè

正色

[正色]

stern
grim
resolute
firm
unflinching
fundamental colors

jiǎozhèng

矫正

[矯正]

to correct
to rectify (e.g. a physical defect such as hearing or vision)
to cure
rectification
correction
to straighten

zhèngzhuàn

正传

[正傳]

main subject of long novel
true biography

zhèngyòng

正用

[正用]

correct usage

guīzhèng

规正

[規正]

to admonish

zhèngguǐ

正轨

[正軌]

the right track

zhèngdāng

正当

[正當]

timely
just (when needed)

dìngzhèng

订正

[訂正]

to make a correction

zhèngzì

正字

[正字]

to correct an erroneously written character
regular script (calligraphy)
standard form (of a character or spelling)

fǔzhèng

斧正

[斧正]

(polite) please amend my writing

zhèngshū

正书

[正書]

regular script (Chinese calligraphic style)

zhèngshì

正室

[正室]

primary wife (in contrast to concubine); legal wife

gōngzhèng

公正

[公正]

just; fair; equitable

fǎnzhèng

反正

[反正]

anyway
in any case
to come over from the enemy's side

Fāngzhèng

方正

[方正]

Fangzheng county in Harbin 哈爾濱／哈尔滨 ( Hā'ěrbīn), Heilongjiang

jiùzhèng

就正

[就正]

(literary and deferential) to solicit comments (on one's writing)

zhèngyè

正业

[正業]

one's regular job

zhèngzài

正在

[正在]

just at (that time)
right in (that place)
right in the middle of (doing sth)

yìngzhèng

硬正

[硬正]

staunchly honest

chúnzhèng

纯正

[純正]

pure
unadulterated
(of motives etc) honest

zhèngdàng

正当

[正當]

honest
reasonable
fair
sensible

Zhēngyuè

正月

[正月]

first month of the lunar year

zhènghuà

正化

[正化]

normalization
to normalize

zhèngfǎn

正反

[正反]

positive and negative
pros and cons
inside and outside

Zhōngzhèng

中正

[中正]

adopted name of Chiang Kai-shek 蔣介石／蒋介石 ( Jiǎng Jièshí)

zhēngshuò

正朔

[正朔]

first day of the first lunar month
(old) calendar promulgated by the first emperor of a dynasty

Zhēngcāngyuàn

正仓院

[正倉院]

Shōsō-in, a timber structure in Nara, Japan, built to house hundreds of artifacts bequeathed to the Tōdai-ji temple by the Japanese emperor Shōmu, who died in 756

zhèngdāngshí

正当时

[正當時]

the right time for sth
the right season (for planting cabbage)

Jīn Zhèng'ēn

金正恩

[金正恩]

Kim Jong-un (c. 1983-), third son of Kim Jong-il 金正日 ( Jīn Zhèngrì), supreme leader of North Korea from 2011

zhèngbǐlì

正比例

[正比例]

direct proportionality

zhèngtóuyǐng

正投影

[正投影]

orthogonal projection

zhèngguījūn

正规军

[正規軍]

regular army
standing army

Zhāng Jūzhèng

张居正

[張居正]

Zhang Juzheng (1525-1582), Grand Secretary during the Ming dynasty, credited with bringing the dynasty to its apogee

Yú Zhèngshēng

俞正声

[俞正聲]

Yu Zhengsheng (1945-), PRC politician

Zhōngzhèng Qū

中正区

[中正區]

Zhongzheng District of Taipei 台北市 ( Táiběi Shì) or Keelung 基隆市 ( Jīlóng Shì)

zhèngcífǎ

正词法

[正詞法]

orthography (linguistics)

chóngzhènghuà

重正化

[重正化]

to renormalize
renormalization

Wú Guānzhèng

吴官正

[吳官正]

Wu Guanzheng (1938-), former CCP Secretary of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection

zhèngjiāoqún

正交群

[正交群]

orthogonal group (math.)

zhèngchánghuà

正常化

[正常化]

normalization (of diplomatic relations etc)

Lín Fēngzhèng

林丰正

[林豐正]

Lin Fong-cheng (1940-), Taiwanese politician

xiūzhèngyè

修正液

[修正液]

correction fluid

zhèngfāngxiàng

正方向

[正方向]

forward direction
(analytic geometry) positive direction

zhèngdāngzhōng

正当中

[正當中]

dead center; the very middle

zhèngdāngnián

正当年

[正當年]

to be in the prime of life

Zhèngyìdǎng

正义党

[正義黨]

Justicialist Party

cìzhèngzhuāng

次正装

[次正裝]

smart casual attire

zhènglízǐ

正离子

[正離子]

positive ion
cation (physics)

fēizhèngcháng

非正常

[非正常]

abnormal
irregular

Jīn Zhèngrì

金正日

[金正日]

Kim Jong-il (1942-2011), Dear Leader of North Korea 1982-2011

zhèngdiànzǐ

正电子

[正電子]

positron (antiparticle of the electron)

Xuē Jūzhèng

薛居正

[薛居正]

Xue Juzheng (912-981), Song historian and compiler of History of the Five Dynasties between Tang and Song 舊五代史／旧五代史

bùzhèngdàng

不正当

[不正當]

dishonest
unfair
improper

zhèngnéngliàng

正能量

[正能量]

positive energy
positivity

jiǎzhèngjīng

假正经

[假正經]

demure
prudish
hypocritical

zhèngchángshí

正长石

[正長石]

orthoclase KAlSi3O8 (rock-forming mineral, type of feldspar)

Xià Zhèngmín

夏正民

[夏正民]

Justice Michael Hartmann (1944-), Hong Kong High Court judge

zhèngzhěngshù

正整数

[正整數]

positive integer

Fāngzhèngxiàn

方正县

[方正縣]

Fangzheng county in Harbin 哈爾濱／哈尔滨 ( Hā'ěrbīn), Heilongjiang

Jīn Zhèngyín

金正银

[金正銀]

former spelling of Kim Jong-un 金正恩 ( Jīn Zhèng'ēn)

Zhènglánqí

正蓝旗

[正藍旗]

Plain Blue banner or Shuluun Höh khoshuu in Xilingol League 錫林郭勒盟／锡林郭勒盟 ( Xīlínguōlè Méng), Inner Mongolia
also written 正蘭旗／正兰旗

zhèngduàncéng

正断层

[正斷層]

normal fault (geology)

zhèngdīngmí

正丁醚

[正丁醚]

butyl ether

zhèngbànzhóu

正半轴

[正半軸]

positive semiaxis (in coordinate geometry)

bùzhèngcháng

不正常

[不正常]

abnormal

zhèngbùzǒu

正步走

[正步走]

to march at parade step
March! (military command)

Zhèngyángxiàn

正阳县

[正陽縣]

Zhengyang county in Zhumadian 駐馬店／驻马店 ( Zhùmǎdiàn), Henan

zhèngxiánbō

正弦波

[正弦波]

sine wave
simple harmonic vibration

zhèngwùbiǎo

正误表

[正誤表]

corrigenda

bùzhèngquè

不正确

[不正確]

incorrect
erroneous

zhèngjiǎoxié

正脚鞋

[正腳鞋]

shoe that can be worn on either foot

Zhènglánqí

正兰旗

[正蘭旗]

Plain Blue banner or Shuluun Höh khoshuu in Xilingol League 錫林郭勒盟／锡林郭勒盟 ( Xīlínguōlè Méng), Inner Mongolia

zhèngtàikòng

正太控

[正太控]

shotacon (Japanese loanword)
manga or anime genre depicting young boys in an erotic manner

zhèngzìfǎ

正字法

[正字法]

orthography

zhèngxiánxíng

正弦形

[正弦形]

sinusoidal (shaped like a sine wave)

zhèngtǐzì

正体字

[正體字]

standard form of a Chinese character
(Tw) traditional (i.e. unsimplified) characters

xiūzhèng'àn

修正案

[修正案]

amendment
revised draft

zhèngxiànglì

正向力

[正向力]

normal force (physics)

Jīn Zhèngyún

金正云

[金正雲]

erroneous form of Kim Jong-un 金正恩 ( Jīn Zhèng'ēn)

Zhèngníngxiàn

正宁县

[正寧縣]

Zhengning county in Qingyang 慶陽／庆阳 ( Qìngyáng), Gansu

zhèngfùhào

正负号

[正負號]

plus or minus sign ± (math.)

zhèngfāngxíng

正方形

[正方形]

square

Zhèngzìtōng

正字通

[正字通]

Zhengzitong, Chinese character dictionary with 33,549 entries, edited by Ming scholar Zhang Zilie 張自烈／张自烈 ( Zhāng Zìliè) in 17th century

zhèngxiāngguān

正相关

[正相關]

positive correlation

fēizhèngshì

非正式

[非正式]

unofficial; informal

Dōngzhèngjiào

东正教

[東正教]

Eastern Orthodox Church

zhèngfāngtǐ

正方体

[正方體]

a rectangular parallelepiped

Zhèng'ān Xiàn

正安县

[正安縣]

Zheng'an county in Zunyi 遵義／遵义 ( Zūnyì), Guizhou

bāzhèngdào

八正道

[八正道]

the Eight-fold Noble Way (Buddhism)

zhèngdàngxìng

正当性

[正當性]

(political) legitimacy

Jīn Zhèngnán

金正男

[金正男]

Kim Jong-nam (1971-2017), the eldest son of Kim Jong-il 金正日 ( Jīn Zhèngrì)

Zhèngdìngxiàn

正定县

[正定縣]

Zhengding county in Shijiazhuang 石家莊／石家庄 ( Shíjiāzhuāng), Hebei

fēizhèngshù

非正数

[非正數]

a nonpositive number (i.e. negative or zero)

Piáo Zhèngxī

朴正熙

[朴正熙]

Park Chung-Hee (1917-1979), South Korean military man and dictator, president 1963-1979, influential in developing Korean industry, murdered by his bodyguard

A Q Zhèngzhuàn

阿Q正传

[阿Q正傳]

The True Story of Ah Q, influential 1921 novella by Lu Xun 魯迅／鲁迅 ( Lǔ Xùn)

xiūchéngzhèngguǒ

修成正果

[修成正果]

to achieve Buddhahood through one's efforts and insight
to obtain a positive outcome after sustained efforts
to come to fruition

zuòfēngzhèngpài

作风正派

[作風正派]

to be honest and upright
to have moral integrity

zhèngchánggōngzuò

正常工作

[正常工作]

normal operation
proper functioning

yīběnzhèngjīng

一本正经

[一本正經]

in deadly earnest; deadpan

zhèngzhìzhèngquè

政治正确

[政治正確]

political correctness
politically correct

yànmíngzhèngshēn

验明正身

[驗明正身]

to identify
to verify sb's identity
identification

zhèngxiándìnglǐ

正弦定理

[正弦定理]

law of sines

jiǎowǎngguòzhèng

矫枉过正

[矯枉過正]

to overcorrect (idiom)
to overcompensate

zhèngchángjūnqún

正常菌群

[正常菌群]

microbiome
microbiota

zhèngfǎnliǎngmiàn

正反两面

[正反兩面]

two-way
reversible
both sides of the coin

zhèngdàngfángwèi

正当防卫

[正當防衛]

reasonable self-defense
legitimate defense

zhèngshìtóupiào

正式投票

[正式投票]

formal vote

zhèngxíngbiāoběn

正型标本

[正型標本]

holotype

zhèngliùbiānxíng

正六边形

[正六邊形]

regular hexagon

míngméizhèngqǔ

明媒正娶

[明媒正娶]

to be officially wed

zhèngduōbāoxíng

正多胞形

[正多胞形]

convex polytope

zhèng'érbābǎn

正儿八板

[正兒八板]

earnest
authentic

Agān Zhèngzhuàn

阿甘正传

[阿甘正傳]

Forrest Gump

zhènggōngniángniáng

正宫娘娘

[正宮娘娘]

empress

bùzhèngzhīfēng

不正之风

[不正之風]

unhealthy tendency

zhèngxiéxiāngzhēng

正邪相争

[正邪相爭]

term in TCM describing the progress of disease as an opposition between vital energy 正氣／正气 (zhèngqì) and pathogeny 邪氣／邪气 (xiéqì)

zhèngrénjūnzi

正人君子

[正人君子]

upright gentleman
man of honor

zhèng'érbājīng

正儿八经

[正兒八經]

serious
earnest
real
true

shězhèngcóngxié

舍正从邪

[捨正從邪]

to be corrupted by evil influences (idiom)

zhèngzhòngyàohài

正中要害

[正中要害]

to hit the nail on the head (idiom)

zhèngfùdiànzǐ

正负电子

[正負電子]

electrons and positrons

wāidǎzhèngzháo

歪打正着

[歪打正著]

to succeed by a lucky stroke

fǎnzhèngyīyàng

反正一样

[反正一樣]

whether it's right or wrong doesn't make a lot of difference
six of one and half a dozen of the other
as broad as it is long

zhèngchángchéngběn

正常成本

[正常成本]

normal cost (accountancy)

zhèngwàibùxìng

正外部性

[正外部性]

positive influence, effect that people's doings or behavior have on others (society)

yìzhèngcíyán

义正辞严

[義正辭嚴]

(idiom) to speak forcibly out of a sense of righteousness

Gāocūn Zhèngyàn

高村正彦

[高村正彥]

KOMURA Masahiko (1942-), Japanese politician, foreign minister from 1998, minister of defense from 2007

shèhuìzhèngyì

社会正义

[社會正義]

social justice

zhèngyánlìsè

正言厉色

[正言厲色]

solemn in word and countenance (idiom); strict and unsmiling
also written 正顏厲色／正颜厉色

zhèngyìmórén

正义魔人

[正義魔人]

(Tw) sanctimonious person
self-appointed moral arbiter

zhèngjīngbābǎi

正经八摆

[正經八擺]

variant of 正經八百／正经八百 (zhèngjīngbābǎi)

zhèngjiàozhēnquán

正教真诠

[正教真詮]

Exegesis of true religion by Wang Daiyu 王岱輿／王岱舆 ( Wáng Dàiyú), a study of Islam
also translated as Real hermeneutics of orthodox religion

jiùdìzhèngfǎ

就地正法

[就地正法]

to execute on the spot (idiom); summary execution
to carry out the law on the spot

xiébùdízhèng

邪不敌正

[邪不敵正]

good will always triumph over evil (idiom)

shǒuzhèngbù'ē

守正不阿

[守正不阿]

to be strictly just and impartial

zhēngyuèchūyī

正月初一

[正月初一]

New Year's Day in the lunar calendar

xiūzhèngzhǔyì

修正主义

[修正主義]

revisionism

zhèngquèchǔlǐ

正确处理

[正確處理]

to handle correctly

chǐlièjiǎozhèng

齿列矫正

[齒列矯正]

orthodontic treatment
orthodontics

piānxiébùzhèng

偏邪不正

[偏邪不正]

biased
prejudiced (idiom)

qìxiéguīzhèng

弃邪归正

[棄邪歸正]

to give up evil and return to virtue

qīngzhèngliánmíng

清正廉明

[清正廉明]

upright and honest

zhèngmóbiāoběn

正模标本

[正模標本]

holotype

zhèngzhòngxiàhuái

正中下怀

[正中下懷]

exactly what one wants

zhèngyádàihuán

正牙带环

[正牙帶環]

orthodontic brace

zhèngduōmiàntǐ

正多面体

[正多面體]

regular polyhedron

fēnghuázhèngmào

风华正茂

[風華正茂]

in one's prime

zhèngyánlìsè

正颜厉色

[正顏厲色]

solemn in countenance (idiom); strict and unsmiling

gāngzhèngbù'ē

刚正不阿

[剛正不阿]

upright and plainspoken

zìzhèngqiāngyuán

字正腔圆

[字正腔圓]

to enunciate beautifully (in speaking or singing) (idiom)

zhèngdàguāngmíng

正大光明

[正大光明]

just and honorable

Zhèngxiāngbáiqí

正镶白旗

[正鑲白旗]

Plain and Bordered White banner or Shuluun Hövööt Chagaan khoshuu in Xilingol League 錫林郭勒盟／锡林郭勒盟 ( Xīlínguōlè Méng), Inner Mongolia

zhèngtàifēnbù

正态分布

[正態分布]

(math.) normal distribution
Gaussian distribution

tángtángzhèngzhèng

堂堂正正

[堂堂正正]

displaying strength and discipline
impressive
upright and frank
square

zhèngjīngbābǎi

正经八百

[正經八百]

very serious
solemn

bùwùzhèngyè

不务正业

[不務正業]

not to engage in honest work
to ignore one's proper occupation
not to attend to one's proper duties

Xùnmín Zhèngyīn

训民正音

[訓民正音]

Korean text HunMin JongUm promulgated by Sejong Daewang in 1418 to introduce hangeul

jiǎozhèngtòujìng

矫正透镜

[矯正透鏡]

correcting lens

zhènggǔbāfǎ

正骨八法

[正骨八法]

the eight methods of bonesetting
Chinese osteopathy

zhèngjīngbābǎn

正经八板

[正經八板]

see 正經八百／正经八百 (zhèngjīngbābǎi)

zhèngdànglǐyóu

正当理由

[正當理由]

proper reason
reasonable grounds

míngzhèngyánshùn

名正言顺

[名正言順]

in a way that justifies the use of the term
genuine
proper
in a way that conforms to logic
justifiable
appropriate
perfectly legitimate

èrzhèngbǐngmí

二正丙醚

[二正丙醚]

di-n-propyl ether

zhèngquèlùxiàn

正确路线

[正確路線]

correct line (i.e. the party line)

yánguīzhèngzhuàn

言归正传

[言歸正傳]

to return to the topic (idiom)
to get back to the main point

fúzhèngyāxié

扶正压邪

[扶正壓邪]

to uphold good and suppress evil (idiom)

wǔguānduānzhèng

五官端正

[五官端正]

to have regular features

chéngxīnzhèngyì

诚心正意

[誠心正意]

see 誠心誠意／诚心诚意 (chéngxīnchéngyì)

shòuzhōngzhèngqǐn

寿终正寝

[壽終正寢]

to die of old age
to die in one's bed at a ripe old age
(fig.) (of a structure or machine etc) to come to the end of its life

zhèngzécānshù

正则参数

[正則參數]

regular parametrization

zhèngjīnwēizuò

正襟危坐

[正襟危坐]

to sit upright and still (idiom)

zhèngxiàngqiánkàn

正向前看

[正向前看]

look-ahead assertion

guāngmíngzhèngdà

光明正大

[光明正大]

(of a person) honorable; not devious
(of a behavior) fair and aboveboard; without tricks; openly
(of a situation) out in the open

shuāngqūzhèngxián

双曲正弦

[雙曲正弦]

hyperbolic sine or sinh (math.)

zhèngyìdòuzhēng

正义斗争

[正義鬥爭]

righteous struggle

gǎixiéguīzhèng

改邪归正

[改邪歸正]

to mend one's ways (idiom)
to turn over a new leaf

fāngfāngzhèngzhèng

方方正正

[方方正正]

square-shaped

zhèngféngqíshí

正逢其时

[正逢其時]

to come at the right time
to be opportune

zhèngguījiàoyù

正规教育

[正規教育]

regular education

bōluànfǎnzhèng

拨乱反正

[撥亂反正]

bring order out of chaos
set to rights things which have been thrown into disorder

bùzhèngdàngjìngzhēng

不正当竞争

[不正當競爭]

unfair competition
illicit competition

bùzhèngdàngguānxì

不正当关系

[不正當關係]

improper relationship; illicit relationship

bùzhèngchángzhuàngkuàng

不正常状况

[不正常狀況]

abnormal state

zhèngzébiǎodáshì

正则表达式

[正則表達式]

regular expression (computing)

chǐlièjiǎozhèngqì

齿列矫正器

[齒列矯正器]

see 牙齒矯正器／牙齿矫正器 (yáchǐjiǎozhèngqì)

yáchǐjiǎozhèngqì

牙齿矫正器

[牙齒矯正器]

orthodontic braces

kǒuxiántǐzhèngzhí

口嫌体正直

[口嫌體正直]

your lips say one thing, but your body language reveals what you really think (borrowed from Japanese)

chǐ'èjiǎozhèngxué

齿颚矫正学

[齒顎矯正學]

orthodontics

shàng'èzhèngménchǐ

上颚正门齿

[上顎正門齒]

maxillary central incisor

Zhōngzhèng Jìniàntáng

中正纪念堂

[中正紀念堂]

Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, Taipei

zhèngdiànzǐduàncéng

正电子断层

[正電子斷層]

PET, positron emission tomography (medical imaging method)

shuāngqūxiànzhèngxián

双曲线正弦

[雙曲線正弦]

hyperbolic sine or sinh (math.)

míngbuzhèngyánbushùn

名不正言不顺

[名不正言不順]

(of a title, degree etc) illegitimately conferred

piānzhèngshìhéchéngcí

偏正式合成词

[偏正式合成詞]

modified compound word

jiǎozhèngbùpàxiéwāi

脚正不怕鞋歪

[腳正不怕鞋歪]

lit. a straight foot has no fear of a crooked shoe
an upright man is not afraid of gossip (idiom)

jiàngòuzhèngyìlǐlùn

建构正义理论

[建構正義理論]

constructivist theory

zhèngdiànzǐfāshètǐcéng

正电子发射体层

[正電子發射體層]

PET, positron emission tomography (medical imaging method)

shēnzhèngbùpàyǐngzixié

身正不怕影子斜

[身正不怕影子斜]

lit. when a man stands straight, he doesn't worry that his shadow is slanting (idiom)
fig. as long as one conducts oneself honorably, one need not worry about what people think; a clean hand wants no washing

zhèngdiànzǐfāshècéngxī

正电子发射层析

[正電子發射層析]