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谦卑 (qiān bēi) — humble, modest

Definition

谦卑 means 'humble' in a deep, inner sense — a genuine lowliness before others, stronger than 谦虚 (polite modesty shown in speech). Often used for attitude or character, not just remarks.

adjective
humblemodest

Examples

  • 谦卑，。
    Tā dài rén fēi cháng qiān bēi, cóng bú xuàn yào zì jǐ de chéng jiù.
    He treats others very humbly and never shows off his accomplishments.
  • 谦卑。
    Zhè wèi zhǎng zhě yǐ qiān bēi de tài dù yíng dé le dà jiā de zūn jìng.
    This elder won everyone's respect with his humble attitude.
  • ，谦卑。
    Zài chéng gōng miàn qián, tā yī rán bǎo chí zhe qiān bēi de xīn tài.
    She still maintains a humble mindset in the face of success.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

谦qiānmodest
卑bēilowly

谦 means modest and 卑 means lowly, so together they describe a humble, modest 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 謙; 谦 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
言言yánspeech
Sound part声符shēngfú
兼
兼jiān謙qiān
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 謙 combines 言 (speech) with 兼 as a sound part; the simplified 谦 is a shorthand.

Open 谦 →

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

卑 puts 甲 (fan) with 𠂇 (hand), drawing a hand holding a fan, showing a servant.

Open 卑 →
Appears in
Personality & Traits

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