坚贞 (jiān zhēn) — faithful and steadfast; constant (in affection or conviction)

Definition

A formal, written adjective meaning steadfastly faithful in loyalty, love, or belief, even under pressure — stronger and more literary than everyday 忠诚. Typically used for ideals, devotion, or moral conviction rather than daily actions.

adjective
faithful and steadfastconstant (in affection or conviction)

Examples

  • 坚贞，。
    Tā duì ài qíng shí fēn jiān zhēn, cóng wèi dòng yáo guò.
    She is very faithful in love and has never wavered.
  • 坚贞。
    Zhàn shì men huái zhe jiān zhēn de xìn yǎng bǎo wèi zǔ guó.
    The soldiers defend the homeland with steadfast faith.
  • ，坚贞。
    Tā men de yǒu yì jīng lì le wú shù kǎo yàn, yī rán jiān zhēn rú chū.
    Their friendship has endured countless trials and remains as faithful as ever.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

坚jiānsteadfast
贞zhēnfaithful

坚贞 joins 坚 for steadfastness and 贞 for faithfulness, describing constant loyalty.

Characters in this word

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 堅; 坚 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
土土tǔ
Sound part声符shēngfú
臤
臤qiān堅jiān
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 堅 pairs 臤, giving the sound, with 土, earth, giving the sense; the simplified 坚 is a later shorthand.

Open 坚 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 貞; 贞 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 貞 grew from a picture of a ding tripod, later changed for divination, and its lower part became unrelated to that picture; the simplified 贞 is a shorthand.

Open 贞 →

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