谦和 (qiān hé) — modest and amiable

Definition

Literary, written-style word combining 谦 ('modest, humble') and 和 ('gentle, amiable'), used for a person's character or manner. Heavier and more formal than 谦虚 or 客气 in everyday speech.

adjective
modest and amiable

Examples

  • 谦和。
    Tā qiān hé de xìng gé ràng dà jiā dōu xǐ huan tā.
    His modest and amiable personality makes everyone like him.
  • ，谦和。
    Suī rán tā shì lǎo bǎn, dàn dài rén fēi cháng qiān hé.
    Even though he is the boss, he treats people with modesty and amiability.
  • 谦和。
    Zhè wèi zhuān jiā shuō huà shí zǒng shì nà me qiān hé.
    This expert always speaks with such modesty and amiability.

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.

谦qiānmodest
和héamiable

谦 means modest and 和 means amiable, so 谦和 describes a modest, gentle 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 →

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
口口kǒumouth
Sound part声符shēngfú
禾
禾hé和hé
Same sound today

和 pairs 禾, which gives the sound, with 口 (mouth), the meaning part; the reference connects this shape to harmony.

Open 和 →

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