诚惶诚恐 (chéng huáng chéng kǒng) — (idiom, often humorous) to be overcome with a mix of awe and gratitude; to be nervously honored; (original literal sense) reverently fearful

Definition

A formal, often self-deprecating idiom meaning 'humbly honored' — said when accepting praise to show you're flattered but feel unworthy. Stronger and more literary than a simple thank you, and frequently used with gentle humor today.

idiom
(idiom, often humorous) to be overcome with a mix of awe and gratitudeto be nervously honored(original literal sense) reverently fearful

Examples

  • ，诚惶诚恐。
    Dé dào nín de kuā jiǎng, wǒ shí zài chéng huáng chéng kǒng.
    I really feel overwhelmed to receive your praise.
  • ，“诚惶诚恐，诚惶诚恐”。
    Tā shōu dào le lǐ wù, lián máng shuō "chéng huáng chéng kǒng, chéng huáng chéng kǒng".
    Upon receiving the gift, he quickly said, 'I'm so honored, I'm so honored.'
  • ，诚惶诚恐。
    Miàn duì dà jiā de zhǎng shēng, tā chéng huáng chéng kǒng dì shuō zì jǐ zhǐ shì zuò le fèn nèi de shì.
    Facing everyone's applause, he humbly said he was just doing his duty.

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.

诚惶sincerely fearful
诚chéngsincerely惶huángfearful
偏正Modifier + head
诚恐sincerely afraid
诚chéngsincerely恐kǒngafraid
偏正Modifier + head

Sincere fear and sincere dread combine into terrified awe.

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 誠; 诚 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
言言yánspeech
Sound part声符shēngfú
成
成chéng誠chéng
Same sound today

In 誠, 言 is the speech part and 成 gives the sound; this is about the traditional form 誠, not the simplified 诚.

Open 诚 →

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
忄Written in full as心xīn
Sound part声符shēngfú
皇
皇huáng惶huáng
Same sound today

惶 uses 忄 (heart, written as 心) on the left and 皇 on the right for the sound.

Open 惶 →

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 誠; 诚 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
言言yánspeech
Sound part声符shēngfú
成
成chéng誠chéng
Same sound today

In 誠, 言 is the speech part and 成 gives the sound; this is about the traditional form 誠, not the simplified 诚.

Open 诚 →

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
𢀜
𢀜𢀜恐kǒng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

恐 is written with 心 (heart). The older form pairs 心 with 𢀜; the modern form can be read as 巩 above 心.

Open 恐 →

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