忠厚 (zhōng hòu) — honest and kind-hearted (positive); (colloquial) overly trusting, naive, weak-willed (negative)

Definition

An adjective describing a person who is honest, sincere, and kind at heart. In colloquial use it can also carry a slightly negative twist — meaning overly trusting or easily taken advantage of.

adjective
honest and kind-hearted (positive)(colloquial) overly trustingnaiveweak-willed (negative)

Examples

  • 忠厚，。
    Tā wéi rén zhōng hòu, cóng bú piàn rén.
    He is honest and kind-hearted, never deceives anyone.
  • 忠厚，。
    Nǐ tài zhōng hòu le, bié rén shuō shén me nǐ dōu xìn.
    You're too trusting — you believe whatever others say.
  • 忠厚，。
    Suī rán tā xìng gé zhōng hòu, dàn gāi jiān chí de shí hou yě huì jiān chí.
    Although she has a gentle and honest personality, she can also stand her ground when needed.

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.

忠zhōngloyal
厚hòugenerous

忠 means loyal and 厚 means generous; together they describe an honest, considerate person.

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
心心xīnheart
Sound part声符shēngfú
中
中zhōng忠zhōng
Same sound today

忠 pairs 心, meaning heart, with 中, which gives its sound.

Open 忠 →

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

  • 厂厂chǎngcliff; cave on a cliff
  • 𣆪𣆪𣆪jug

The shape of 厚 puts 𣆪, a jug, beneath 厂, a cliff or cave.

Open 厚 →

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