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恭 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
恭
gōng
respectful
ag, 10 strokes, radical ⺗, rank #20874, Very Hard
恭
gōng
polite, respectful, reverent
ag, 10 strokes, radical ⺗, rank #20874, Very Hard
gōng(gong1)gong T1
1respectful
2polite, respectful, reverent
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March 24, 2026
恭gōng(gong1)
The character 恭 (gōng) means respectful or polite, often used to describe an attitude of reverence or deference towards others. It is commonly used in formal contexts, such as in greetings or when addressing elders, to convey a sense of honor and politeness.
Strokes10Radical⺗Frequency#20874DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, the concept of respect is deeply ingrained, especially in familial and hierarchical relationships. The character 恭 is often used in traditional greetings, reflecting the importance of showing respect, especially during festivals or ceremonies.
Memory tip
Imagine a person bowing deeply with their hands pressed together in front of their chest, symbolizing respect. The character 恭 has a heart (忄) on the left, representing emotions, and a structure on the right that resembles a person in a humble pose, reinforcing the idea of being respectful.
Meanings of 恭
gōng(gong1)
1respectful
2polite, respectful, reverent
Exercise 1 of 3
By ear
Play it, then pick what 恭 means.
About 恭
恭Simplified
10Strokes
⺗Radical
形容词性语素xíngróngcíadjective root (adj.root)Part of Speech
#20874Frequency Rank
Podcast: 恭
Podcast: 恭
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AI study notes for 恭
Quick Contrast
恭敬 (gōngjìng) vs 恭顺 (gōngshùn) — use 恭敬 when emphasizing respect and honor, while 恭顺 implies obedience and submission.
Usage Notes
Be cautious not to confuse 恭 with similar-sounding characters like 公 (gōng), which means public. 恭 is more formal, so it may not be suitable for casual conversations. Common collocations include 恭敬 (gōngjìng, respectful) and 恭贺 (gōnghè, to congratulate respectfully).
HSK Study Tips
Although 恭 is not part of the standard HSK vocabulary list, it connects to themes of respect and politeness found in HSK Level 3 and 4 words. Students should focus on using it in respectful phrases and understand its context in formal communication.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 恭 with other characters conveying respect, like 敬 (jìng). For example, they might say 恭敬 (gōngjìng) incorrectly when they mean to use 敬意 (jìngyì, respect). It's essential to understand the nuance between these terms.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 恭
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恭 = ⺗ + 共. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 恭
IDS Structure⿱共⺗
恭Full character
=
共gong4
top
⺗xin1
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 恭?
How to say respectful in Chinese
“respectful” in Chinese is恭gōng
The character 恭 (gōng) means respectful or polite, often used to describe an attitude of reverence or deference towards others. It is commonly used in formal contexts, such as in greetings or when addressing elders, to convey a sense of honor and politeness.
When to use 恭
Be cautious not to confuse 恭 with similar-sounding characters like 公 (gōng), which means public. 恭 is more formal, so it may not be suitable for casual conversations. Common collocations include 恭敬 (gōngjìng, respectful) and 恭贺 (gōnghè, to congratulate respectfully).
恭 or something close to it
恭敬 (gōngjìng) vs 恭顺 (gōngshùn) — use 恭敬 when emphasizing respect and honor, while 恭顺 implies obedience and submission.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 恭 with other characters conveying respect, like 敬 (jìng). For example, they might say 恭敬 (gōngjìng) incorrectly when they mean to use 敬意 (jìngyì, respect). It's essential to understand the nuance between these terms.
Write 恭
恭
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Practice writing 恭 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar patterns of 恭
恭 carries 2 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
Exercise 1 of 4
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
他____顺地看着基思，等着他发号施令。
He was looking obediently at Keith, waiting for orders.
Common confusions with 恭
恭vs供
gōng
Same pronunciation but different meanings.
恭vs宫
gōng
Same pronunciation but different meanings.
Exercise 1 of 1
Which one
Which one means “respectful”?
or
Example sentences for 恭 (10)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
他恭顺地看着基思，等着他发号施令。
tā gōng shùn dì kàn zhe jī sī， děng zhe tā fā hào Shī lìng。
He was looking obediently at Keith, waiting for orders.
2
他对年轻人的玩世不恭感到惊愕。
tā duì niánqīng rén de wán shì bù gōng gǎndào jīng è。
He was dismayed at the cynicism of the youngsters.
3
全都是些部长们常说的骗人鬼话和少不了的奉承恭维。
quándōu shì xiē bùzhǎng men cháng shuō de piànrén guǐ huà hé shǎobuliǎo de fèng chéng gōngwéi。
There was all the usual humbug and obligatory compliments from ministers.
The children in our family are always respectful to their elders.
5
他毕恭毕敬地把小说放回了正面装有玻璃的书架。
tā bì gōng bì jìng dì bǎ xiǎoshuō fàng huí le zhèngmiàn zhuāng yǒu bōli de shūjià。
He reverentially returned the novel to a glass-fronted bookcase.
6
那位老人语带恭敬。
nà wèi lǎorén yǔ dài gōngjìng。
The old man spoke deferentially.
7
恭请接受我们的礼物.
gōng qǐng jiēshòu wǒmen de lǐwù.
We have the pleasure to ask your acceptance of our presents.
8
“您是一位艺术家，”她毕恭毕敬地说。
“ nín shì yī wèi yìshù jiā，” tā bì gōng bì jìng dì shuō。
"You are an artist," she said respectfully.
9
“下士，您去哪里？”骑兵费恩毕恭毕敬地问道。
“ xià shì， nín qù nǎlǐ？” qí bīng fèi ēn bì gōng bì jìng dì wèn dào。
"Where to, Corporal?" asked Trooper Fane respectfully.
10
云将跪下来恭恭敬敬地磕了两个响头,神情肃然, 抬头挺胸地走了.
yún jiāng guì xiàlái gōng gōngjìng jìng dì kē le liǎng gè xiǎng tóu, shénqíng sù rán, táitóu tǐng xiōng dì zǒu le.
Kneeling down solemnly, Yun Jiang kowtowed twice and left , with head raising and chest lifting.
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Word Family of 恭
Compounds1
塨gōng
Words containing this character20
恭喜gōngxǐgreetings
恭gōngrespectful
恭维gōngwéito praise恭維
恭喜发财gōngxǐfācáiMay you have a prosperous New Year! (New Year's greeting)恭喜發財
恭敬gōngjìngdeferential
洗耳恭听xǐ’ěrgōngtīngwe are all ears洗耳恭聽
恭候gōnghòuto look forward to sth
恭祝gōngzhùto congratulate respectfully
谦恭qiāngōngpolite and modest謙恭
恭贺gōnghèto express good wishes恭賀
玩世不恭wánshìbùgōngfrivolous
毕恭毕敬bìgōngbìjìngreverent and respectful畢恭畢敬
恭顺gōngshùndeferential恭順
尉迟恭yùchígōngGeneral Yuchi Gong (585-658), famous military man instrumental in founding the Tang dynasty尉遲恭
恭敬不如从命gōngjìngbùrúcóngmìngdeference is no substitute for obedience (idiom)恭敬不如從命
恭贺新禧gōnghèxīnxǐHappy New Year恭賀新禧
恭城gōngchéngGongcheng Yao autonomous county in Guilin 桂林[Guìlín], Guangxi
温良恭俭让wēnliánggōngjiǎnràngkindhearted and moderate (idiom); temperate and gentle溫良恭儉讓
必恭必敬bìgōngbìjìngreverent and respectful
却之不恭quèzhībùgōngto refuse would be impolite卻之不恭
Exercise 1 of 4
Words with 恭
What does 恭喜 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 恭
Common phrases that include 恭 (gōng) are 恭喜 (gōng xǐ), meaning 'congratulations,' and 恭敬 (gōng jìng), which means 'to respect' or 'to honor.' These phrases are often used in formal greetings and celebrations, emphasizing the importance of respect in Chinese culture.
恭 (gōng) means respectful, polite, or reverent in Chinese. It is often used to convey a sense of honor or deference towards someone or something. This character is commonly found in phrases that express respect, such as 恭喜 (gōng xǐ), which means 'congratulations.'
To use 恭 (gōng) in a sentence, you might say 恭敬地对待他 (gōng jìng de duì dài tā), which means 'treat him with respect.' This highlights the character's meaning of being respectful and polite. It can also be used in formal contexts to show reverence.
You can say 恭喜发财 (gōngxǐ fācái) to wish someone prosperity, especially during the Lunar New Year.
It's more common in formal contexts, so you might not hear it in casual conversations among friends.
While both convey respect, 礼 (lǐ) is more about rituals and propriety, whereas 恭 (gōng) emphasizes the attitude of respect.
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