Chinese Character: 敬
1. Character Basics
Radical: 苟/gǒu (upright)
Stroke Count: 12
Stroke Order:
2. Pronunciation
Pinyin: jìng (fourth tone)
3. Meaning
respect, honor, esteem
4. Common Words
- 尊敬 (zūn jìng) - respect, honor
- 敬爱 (jìng ài) - respect and love
- 敬礼 (jìng lǐ) - salute, pay respects
- 敬业 (jìng yè) - dedication to work
- 敬老 (jìng lǎo) - respect the elderly
- 敬畏 (jìng wèi) - reverence, awe
5. Grammar & Usage
Part of Speech: Mainly used as a verb or adjective
Usage Patterns:
- 作为动词: 尊敬 (respect); 敬礼 (salute)
- 作为形容词: 敬业 (dedicated); 敬老 (respectful to the elderly)
- 与其他字组合: 敬畏 (reverence); 敬爱 (respect and love)
- 成语用法: 敬而远之 (jìng ér yuǎn zhī) - to keep at a respectful distance
Note: "敬" is commonly used in contexts related to showing respect, honor, and reverence.
6. Cultural Background
Confucian Values: "敬" (respect) is a fundamental value in Confucianism, emphasizing respect for parents, elders, teachers, and authority figures. It is closely related to the concept of "孝" (filial piety).
Traditional Etiquette: In traditional Chinese culture, showing respect through proper etiquette, such as bowing or using polite language, has been highly valued.
Modern Society: While some traditional forms of showing respect have evolved, the value of respect remains important in contemporary Chinese society, influencing social interactions, workplaces, and family relationships.
Idioms and Proverbs: There are many Chinese idioms and proverbs that emphasize the importance of respect, reflecting its deep cultural significance.
7. Example Sentence
Chinese: 我们应该尊敬长辈。
Pinyin: Wǒ men yīng gāi zūn jìng zhǎng bèi.
Translation: We should respect the elderly.
8. Memory Tips
Character Breakdown: The character "敬" consists of "苟" (gǒu, upright) on the left and "攵" (pū, tap) on the right. Together, they can be thought of as "showing respect through upright behavior" or "tapping (showing) respect".
Mnemonic Device: Imagine the left part "苟" as a person standing upright, and the right part "攵" as a hand showing respect or making a gesture of greeting.
Word Association: Connect "敬" with the common word "尊敬" (zūn jìng - respect) to help remember its meaning and pronunciation.
Sound-Alike Memory: The pronunciation "jìng" is similar to "镜" (jìng, mirror), "静" (jìng, quiet), "净" (jìng, clean), "竞" (jìng, compete), and "竟" (jìng, unexpectedly), but the meanings are different, so be careful not to confuse them.