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受宠若惊 (shòu chǒng-ruò jīng) — to be overwhelmed by an unexpected favor or praise (humble expression)

Definition

A humble idiom for feeling overwhelmed by unexpected favor or praise from a superior. Unlike 得天独厚 (describing a person's natural advantages), this reacts to someone else's kindness, often as polite self-deprecation.

phrase
to be overwhelmed by an unexpected favor or praise (humble expression)

Examples

  • ，受宠若惊。
    Dé dào nín de yāo qǐng, wǒ zhēn shì shòu chǒng-ruò jīng.
    I am truly overwhelmed by your invitation.
  • ，受宠若惊。
    Lǐng dǎo zhè me kàn zhòng wǒ, ràng wǒ shòu chǒng-ruò jīng.
    The leader thinks so highly of me — it makes me feel overwhelmed.
  • ，受宠若惊，。
    Nín sòng zhè me guì zhòng de lǐ wù, wǒ shòu chǒng-ruò jīng, bù gǎn shōu.
    You gave such an expensive gift — I'm overwhelmed and dare not accept it.

Origin

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

受 possibly combines 爪 and 又 as hands with 舟 as a boat, to show handing something over.

Open 受 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 寵; 宠 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
宀宀mián
Sound part声符shēngfú
龍
龍lóng寵chǒng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 寵 pairs 宀 (roof) with 龍 (dragon): 宀 relates to the meaning and 龍 gives the sound. The simplified 宠 is a later shorthand.

Open 宠 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

若 began as a picture of a person combing their hair, associated with obedience.

Open 若 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
忄Written in full as心xīnheart
Sound part声符shēngfú
京
京jīng惊jīng
Same sound today

惊 is made from 忄 (heart) and 京, which gives the sound.

Open 惊 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Emotions & FeelingsIdioms & Set Phrases

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.