勤勉 (qín miǎn) — diligent; assiduous

Definition

勤勉 (qínmiǎn) is a formal written word for steady, disciplined hard work over time. It pairs with 努力 to emphasize sustained diligence rather than a single effort.

adjective
diligentassiduous

Examples

  • 勤勉，。
    Tā shì yí wèi fēi cháng qín miǎn de xué zhě, měi tiān gōng zuò dào shēn yè.
    He is a very diligent scholar who works late into the night every day.
  • 勤勉。
    Zhǐ yǒu qín miǎn nǔ lì cái néng shí xiàn nǐ de mèng xiǎng.
    Only with diligent effort can you realize your dreams.
  • 勤勉，。
    Tā cóng xiǎo jiù yǎng chéng le qín miǎn de xí guàn, zuò shì cóng bù tuō yán.
    She developed diligent habits from a young age and never procrastinates.

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.

勤qíndiligent
勉miǎnstriving

勤 (diligent) and 勉 (striving) reinforce each other to mean assiduous effort.

Characters in this word

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 勤 →

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
力力lìstrong
Sound part声符shēngfú
免
免miǎn勉miǎn
Same sound today

勉 puts 力, meaning strong, beside 免, which gives the sound. The shape shows making a strong effort.

Open 勉 →

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