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彬彬有礼 (bīn bīn yǒu lǐ) — refined and courteous; urbane

Definition

A set phrase describing someone whose refined, polite manners show in every word and action. Stronger than the everyday 有礼貌 — it implies cultivated, gentlemanly conduct, not just basic politeness.

phrase
refined and courteousurbane

Examples

  • 彬彬有礼，。
    Zhè wèi jiào shòu bīn bīn yǒu lǐ, shēn shòu xué shēng zūn jìng.
    This professor is refined and courteous, deeply respected by students.
  • ，彬彬有礼。
    Zài shāng wù tán pàn zhōng, bǎo chí bīn bīn yǒu lǐ hěn zhòng yào.
    In business negotiations, it's important to remain refined and courteous.
  • 彬彬有礼。
    Tā de yì yán yì xíng dōu xiǎn de bīn bīn yǒu lǐ.
    His every word and action appears refined and courteous.

Origin

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
彡彡shān
Sound part声符shēngfú
焚
焚fén彬
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

彬 joins 焚 and 彡; 焚 gives the sound, and 彡 gives the meaning.

Open 彬 →

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
彡彡shān
Sound part声符shēngfú
焚
焚fén彬
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

彬 joins 焚 and 彡; 焚 gives the sound, and 彡 gives the meaning.

Open 彬 →

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
肉肉ròumeat
Sound part声符shēngfú
又
又yòu有yǒu
Same sound today

The form 有 combines 又, used for its sound, with a shape from 肉, 'meat'; the hand-holding-meat story is a folk explanation, not shown in the oldest shape.

Open 有 →

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 禮; 礼 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
礻Written in full as示shìaltar
Sound part声符shēngfú
豊
豊lǐ禮lǐ
Same sound today

The traditional form 禮 pairs 礻 (altar) with 豊, a sound part, for performing rites at the altar; the simplified 礼 is a later shorthand.

Open 礼 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Idioms & Set PhrasesPersonality & Traits

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.