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尊称 (zūn chēng) — honorific title; respectful form of address

Definition

A respectful title or form of address used to honor someone (e.g. 老师, 陛下). Note the structure: it can be used as a noun ('a respectful title') or as a verb phrase meaning 'to address respectfully' (请尊称他).

noun
honorific titlerespectful form of address

Examples

  • “”尊称。
    "Lǎo shī" shì duì jiào shī de yì zhǒng zūn chēng.
    "Teacher" is a respectful form of address for teachers.
  • ，“”尊称。
    Zài gǔ dài, "bì xià" shì duì huáng dì de zūn chēng.
    In ancient times, "Your Majesty" was an honorific title for the emperor.
  • 尊称。
    Qǐng yòng zūn chēng chēng hu tā.
    Please address him with a respectful title.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

尊zūnrespectful
称chēngappellation

尊 conveys respect, and 称 means calling or title, so it denotes a respectful way of addressing someone.

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 稱; 称 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
禾禾hérice
Sound part声符shēngfú
爯
爯chēng稱chēng
Same sound today

The traditional form 稱 pairs 禾 (rice) with 爯, a part giving the sound; it is explained as measuring rice. The simplified 称 is a later shorthand.

Open 称 →
Appears in
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