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尊严 (zūn yán) — dignity

Definition

尊严 is inherent human dignity — the right to be treated with respect. It is more formal and absolute than 面子 (social face) and more focused on personal worth than 荣誉 (earned honor or reputation).

noun
dignity

Examples

  • 尊严。
    Guó jiā de zhǔ quán hé zūn yán bù róng qīn fàn.
    The sovereignty and dignity of a nation is inviolable.
  • 尊严。
    Tā zài kùn nan zhōng bǎo chí le zūn yán.
    He maintained his dignity in difficulty.
  • 尊严。
    Měi gè rén dōu xiǎng yǒu zuò rén de zūn yán.
    Everyone enjoys the dignity of being human.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

尊zūnhonor
严yánsolemn

尊 conveys honor, 严 conveys solemnity; together they mean dignity.

Characters in this word

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

The shape combines 寸 (hand) and 酋 (wine), showing a hand offering a wine vessel to express respect; some forms show two hands instead.

Open 尊 →

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 嚴; 严 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
喦喦yántalkative
Sound part声符shēngfú
敢
敢gǎn嚴yán
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 嚴 combines 喦 (talkative) and 敢 (daring); the simplified 严 is a later shorthand.

Open 严 →
Appears in
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