恭顺 (gōng shùn) — respectful and submissive

Definition

A formal, written word for being deferential and obedient, especially toward a superior or elder. It often carries a negative nuance of passivity or lack of backbone, unlike 尊敬, which simply means 'respectful.'

adjective
respectful and submissive

Examples

  • 恭顺，。
    Tā duì zhǎng bèi tài dù gōng shùn, cóng bù dǐng zuǐ.
    He is respectful and submissive toward his elders and never talks back.
  • 恭顺。
    Zhè wèi lǎo pú rén yí xiàng gōng shùn dì fú shì zhǔ rén.
    This old servant has always served his master respectfully and obediently.
  • 恭顺，。
    Tā zài lǐng dǎo miàn qián biǎo xiàn dé hěn gōng shùn, dàn sī xià què bú rèn tóng.
    He acts very deferential in front of his boss, but privately he disagrees.

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.

恭gōngrespectful
顺shùnobedient

The meanings of 恭, respectful, and 顺, obedient, combine into a deferential attitude.

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 →

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 順; 顺 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
頁頁yè
Sound part声符shēngfú
川
川chuān順shùn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 順 pairs 川 (river), which gives the sound, with 頁 (head); the picture is a head in a river, following the current. The simplified 顺 is a shorthand.

Open 顺 →

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