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March 24, 2026
勤qín(qin2)
The character 勤 (qín) conveys the idea of being diligent and industrious, typically in the context of work or study. It implies a consistent and hardworking attitude, suggesting a strong work ethic and frequent effort in one's tasks or responsibilities.
Strokes13Radical力Frequency#5906DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, being 勤 (qín) is highly valued, often linked to Confucian ideals of hard work and dedication. It is common to hear parents encouraging their children to be 勤奋 (qínfèn) in their studies and careers.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person (represented by the character's radical) diligently working in a field, tirelessly sowing seeds (勤). The character's shape resembles someone bent over laboring hard, reinforcing the idea of hard work and dedication.
Meanings of 勤
qín(qin2)
1diligent
2industrious
Exercise 1 of 3
Listen & Choose the Meaning
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About 勤
勤Simplified
13Strokes
力Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#5906Frequency Rank
Podcast: 勤
Podcast: 勤
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AI Study Notes for 勤
Quick Contrast
勤 (qín) vs 努力 (nǔlì) — choose 勤 when emphasizing habitual diligence, while 努力 focuses more on effort in a specific situation.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a person (represented by the character's radical) diligently working in a field, tirelessly sowing seeds (勤). The character's shape resembles someone bent over laboring hard, reinforcing the idea of hard work and dedication.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 勤 with other similar characters like 忍 (rěn) which means to endure. It's used in both formal and informal contexts, but be mindful of the tone when emphasizing diligence in a professional setting. Common collocations include 勤奋 (qínfèn) meaning 'hardworking' and 勤劳 (qínláo) meaning 'industrious'.
HSK Study Tips
While 勤 is not explicitly listed in standard HSK levels, it connects to HSK vocabulary related to work ethic and effort. Focus on recognizing it in phrases and practice using it in context to enhance your vocabulary around diligence and industriousness.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, being 勤 (qín) is highly valued, often linked to Confucian ideals of hard work and dedication. It is common to hear parents encouraging their children to be 勤奋 (qínfèn) in their studies and careers.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly use 勤 in contexts that imply 'lazy' or 'carefree', which is the opposite of its meaning. For example, saying '我很勤' (Wǒ hěn qín) to mean 'I am lazy' is incorrect; it should be '我很懒' (Wǒ hěn lǎn) instead.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 勤
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Grammar Patterns of 勤
勤 functions as an adjective. In Chinese it behaves like a stative verb: place it directly after the subject without 是 (我很高，not 我是高). Use 不 to negate (不高) and pair it with 很 in plain affirmative sentences. It carries 8 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
我认为取得成功唯一的共同要素是____奋。
I think the only common denominator of success is hard work.
Common Confusions with 勤
勤vs亲
qīn
Similar pronunciation but different meanings.
勤vs清
qīng
Similar pronunciation; '清' relates to clarity.
Exercise 1 of 1
Spot the Difference
Which character means "diligent"?
or
Example Sentences for 勤 (10)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
我认为取得成功唯一的共同要素是勤奋。
wǒ rèn wéi qǔ dé chéng gōng wéi yī de gòng tóng yào sù shì qín fèn。
I think the only common denominator of success is hard work.
2
机场地勤人员试图阻止这位飞行员驾机起飞。
jī cháng dì qín rén yuán shì tú zǔ zhǐ zhè wèi fēi háng yuán jià jī qǐ fēi。
The airport ground crew tried to dissuade the pilot from taking off.
3
那里的通勤一族平均上下班要花5个小时。
nà lǐ de tōng qín yī zú píng jūn shàng xià bān yào huā5 5 gè xiǎo。
The average commuter journey there is five hours long.
4
弗吉尼娅还在尽力成为一位勤勤恳恳、全心奉献的母亲。
fú jí ní yà huán zài jìn lì chéng wéi yī wèi qín qín kěn kěn、 、 quán xīn fèng xiàn de mǔ。
Virginia was still struggling to be a conscientious and dedicated mother.
5
他辞去了在雅典当办公室勤杂工的工作。
tā cí qù le zài yǎ diǎn dāng bàn gōng shì qín zá gōng de gōng zuò。
There were 2,250 policemen on duty in and around the stadium.
7
他的出勤记录时好时差。
tā de chū qín jì lù shí hǎo shí chà。
His attendance record was spotty.
8
我钦佩他是个真正的科学家和勤奋工作的人。
wǒ qīn pèi tā shì gè zhēn zhèng de kē xué jiā hé qín fèn gōng zuò de rén。
I admired him as a true scientist and hard worker.
9
人勤地生宝；人懒地长草。
rén qín dì shēng bǎo； ； rén lǎn dì cháng。
Feed plants and they grow, neglect them and they suffer.
10
惊恐万分的通勤者们看见那辆卡车突然冲向高速公路另一侧，接着翻倒在地。
jīng kǒng wàn fēn de tōng qín zhě mén kàn jiàn nà liàng kǎ chē tū rán chōng xiàng gāo sù gōng lù lìng yī cè， ， jiē zháo fān dǎo zài。
Horrified commuters saw the lorry veer across the motorway and overturn.
Cultural Notes for 勤
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, being 勤 (qín) is highly valued, often linked to Confucian ideals of hard work and dedication. It is common to hear parents encouraging their children to be 勤奋 (qínfèn) in their studies and careers.
Word Family of 勤
Words Containing This Character20
勤qíndiligent
勤奋qínfènhardworking勤奮
辛勤xīnqínhardworking
后勤hòuqínlogistics後勤
执勤to be on duty (of a security guard etc)執勤
外勤field work
勤劳qínláohardworking勤勞
出勤to go to work
值勤to be on duty (of a security guard etc)
勤快qínkuaidiligent
王励勤Wang Liqin (1978-), former PRC table tennis player, Olympic medalist王勵勤
勤俭qínjiǎnhardworking and frugal勤儉
勤务service勤務
殷勤yīnqínpolitely
献殷勤to court sb's favor獻殷勤
勤勉diligence
考勤to monitor efficiency (of workers)
勤工俭学qíngōngjiǎnxuéwork-study program勤工儉學
勤勤恳恳assiduous勤勤懇懇
缺勤to be absent from work or school
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 勤 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 勤
Common phrases include 勤奋 (qínfèn) meaning 'hardworking' and 勤劳 (qínláo) meaning 'industrious'. These terms can be used to describe a person's work ethic.
The correct pronunciation is 'qín', with a rising tone. Focus on the 'q' sound which is similar to 'chee' but pronounced with a more forward placement in the mouth.
Yes, 勤 can be used in both formal and informal contexts, though it's more commonly found in discussions about work ethic or study habits.
