TongTong
Sign in

恳切 (kěn qiè) — earnest, sincere

Definition

恳切 describes an earnest, heartfelt manner in asking or speaking — often paired with verbs like 请求 or 劝说. 真诚 is a broader 'genuine', while 诚挚 and 诚恳 are more about attitude than this word's urgent tone.

adjective
earnestsincere

Examples

  • 恳切。
    Tā kěn qiè de chéng rèn le zì jǐ de cuò wù.
    He earnestly admitted his mistake.
  • 恳切，。
    Tā de tài dù shí fēn kěn qiè, ràng rén gǎn dòng.
    Her attitude is very sincere, which moved people.
  • 恳切。
    Tā kěn qiè de quàn shuō wǒ men jiē shòu zhè ge jiàn yì.
    He earnestly urged us to accept this suggestion.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

恳kěnearnest
切qièsincere

The senses of 恳 and 切, both earnest and sincere, join to describe a frank, heartfelt manner.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 懇; 恳 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
心心xīnheart
Sound part声符shēngfú
貇
貇kěn懇kěn
Same sound today

The traditional form 懇 pairs 貇, which gives the pronunciation, with 心 (heart); the simplified 恳 is a shorthand.

Open 恳 →

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
刀刀dāoknife
Sound part声符shēngfú
七
七qī切qiè
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

In 切, the 刀 (knife) part is joined to 七, which gives the sound.

Open 切 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9HSK 2.0 Level 6

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