| 名正言顺 |
míng zhèng yán shùn |
in a way that justifies the use of the term / genuine / proper / in a way that conforms to logic / justifiable / appropriate / perfectly legitimate |
| 名 |
míng |
name / noun (part of speech) / place (e.g. among winners) / famous / classifier for people |
| 正 |
zhēng |
first month of the lunar year |
| 正 |
zhèng |
straight / upright / proper / main / principal / to correct / to rectify / exactly / just (at that time) / right (in that place) / (math.) positive |
| 言 |
yán |
words / speech / to say / to talk |
| 顺 |
shùn |
to obey / to follow / to arrange / to make reasonable / along / favorable |