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恭敬 (gōng jìng) — respectful, deferential

Definition

恭敬 describes a deferential MANNER (humble, reverent in tone and behavior), usually toward elders or in formal settings. It is stronger and more deferential than 尊敬, which marks general respect or honor.

adjective
respectfuldeferential

Examples

  • 恭敬。
    Tā duì zhǎng bèi fēi cháng gōng jìng.
    He is very respectful toward elders.
  • 恭敬。
    Tā gōng jìng de jū le yì gōng.
    She bowed respectfully.
  • ，恭敬。
    Zài zhèng shì chǎng hé, yán xíng yào gōng jìng.
    In formal occasions, one's words and actions should be respectful.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

恭gōngrespectful
敬jìngrespectful

“恭” and “敬” both express respect, combined to mean deferential and respectful.

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
共
共gòng恭gōng
Same sound today

恭 has 心, meaning heart, and 共, read gòng.

Open 恭 →

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

  • 茍茍jìkneeling person or sitting dog
  • 攴攴pūhand holding a stick, authority

敬 is possibly formed from 茍, a kneeling person or sitting dog, and 攴, a hand holding a stick.

Open 敬 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9HSK 2.0 Level 6Personality & Traits

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