毕恭毕敬 (bì gōng bì jìng) — extremely reverent and deferential, showing great respect

Definition

A chengyu describing someone performing an action with utmost respect and deference — body language, tone, and attitude all signal reverence. Often used when the level of respect feels exaggerated or performative.

idiom
extremely reverent and deferential, showing great respect

Examples

  • 毕恭毕敬。
    Tā duì lǎo shī zǒng shì bì gōng bì jìng de.
    He is always extremely respectful to his teacher.
  • 毕恭毕敬，。
    Fú wù yuán duì wǒ men bì gōng bì jìng, ràng wǒ men hěn bù xí guàn.
    The waiter was so reverent to us that we felt very uncomfortable.
  • ，毕恭毕敬。
    Zài lǐng dǎo miàn qián, tā biǎo xiàn dé bì gōng bì jìng.
    In front of his boss, he behaved extremely deferentially.

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.

毕恭entirely respectful
毕bìentirely恭gōngrespectful
偏正Modifier + head
毕敬entirely deferential
毕bìentirely敬jìngdeferential
偏正Modifier + head

The sense of 'entirely' in 毕 strengthens 恭 and 敬, giving extreme respect and deference.

Characters in this word

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 畢; 毕 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 畢 combines 田 (field) and 𠦒 (net), showing a net used for hunting in a field.

Open 毕 →

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
心心xīnheart
Sound part声符shēngfú
共
共gòng恭gōng
Same sound today

恭 has 心, meaning heart, and 共, read gòng.

Open 恭 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 畢; 毕 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 畢 combines 田 (field) and 𠦒 (net), showing a net used for hunting in a field.

Open 毕 →

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

  • 茍茍jìkneeling person or sitting dog
  • 攴攴pūhand holding a stick, authority

敬 is possibly formed from 茍, a kneeling person or sitting dog, and 攴, a hand holding a stick.

Open 敬 →

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