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谦恭 (qiān gōng) — polite and modest

Definition

A formal, written adjective meaning deferentially polite and modest — stronger and more dignified than the everyday 客气. Use it for someone of higher status who humbles themselves.

adjective
polite and modest

Examples

  • 谦恭，。
    Tā dài rén qiān gōng, hěn yǒu jiào yǎng.
    He is polite and modest towards people, very well-mannered.
  • 谦恭。
    Tā yǐ qiān gōng de tài dù yíng dé le dà jiā de zūn zhòng.
    With her polite and modest attitude, she earned everyone's respect.
  • ，谦恭。
    Zhè wèi lǎo shī suī rán xué wèn hěn shēn, dàn yī rán hěn qiān gōng.
    Although this teacher is very knowledgeable, he remains very polite and modest.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

谦qiānmodest
恭gōngrespectful

谦 means modest and 恭 means respectful, so 谦恭 combines both to mean polite.

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 謙; 谦 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
言言yánspeech
Sound part声符shēngfú
兼
兼jiān謙qiān
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 謙 combines 言 (speech) with 兼 as a sound part; the simplified 谦 is a shorthand.

Open 谦 →

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 →
Appears in
Personality & Traits

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