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March 24, 2026
恳(懇)kěn(ken3)
The character 恳 (kěn) means earnest or sincere, often used to describe someone's attitude or manner. It conveys a sense of heartfelt sincerity and cordiality, typically in contexts of requests or appeals, emphasizing the seriousness and genuineness of one’s intentions.
Strokes10Radical心Frequency#50517DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, sincerity and earnestness are highly valued in interpersonal relationships, making the use of 恳 in requests or invitations carry significant weight. Using 恳 can enhance your credibility and show respect towards others.
Memory Tip
Imagine a heart (representing sincerity) being embraced by two hands, symbolizing earnestness and warmth. The character 恳 has the radical 心 (heart) at the bottom, which reinforces its meaning of heartfelt emotions. Think of 'kěn' like 'can' in English, where you earnestly express your ability or willingness to do something.
Meanings of 恳
kěn(ken3)
1earnest
2sincere, earnest, cordial
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 恳 means.
About 恳
恳Simplified
懇Traditional
10Strokes
心Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#50517Frequency Rank
Podcast: 恳
Podcast: 恳
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AI Study Notes for 恳
Quick Contrast
恳 (kěn) vs 诚 (chéng) — use 恳 when emphasizing earnestness in requests, while 诚 focuses more on general sincerity or honesty.
Usage Notes
Be cautious not to confuse 恳 with similar-sounding characters like 肯 (kěn) which means to agree or consent. It is generally used in more formal contexts, such as in writing or serious discussions. Common collocations include 恳求 (kěnqiú, to earnestly request) and 恳请 (kěnqǐng, to sincerely invite).
HSK Study Tips
Although 恳 is not part of the HSK curriculum, it connects with other HSK vocabulary related to sincerity and requests. Students at this level should focus on using 恳 in phrases to improve their expressive ability in polite or formal contexts.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 恳 with 肯 due to their similar sounds. For example, saying '我恳同意' (Wǒ kěn tóngyì) instead of '我肯同意' (Wǒ kěn tóngyì) which means 'I agree.' Use 恳 for sincerity, and 肯 for agreement.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 恳
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How Well Do You Know 恳?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 恳 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
恳 = 心 + 艮. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 恳
IDS Structure⿱艮心
恳Full Character
=
艮gen3
top
心xin1
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 恳?
How to say earnest in Chinese
“earnest” in Chinese is恳kěn
The character 恳 (kěn) means earnest or sincere, often used to describe someone's attitude or manner. It conveys a sense of heartfelt sincerity and cordiality, typically in contexts of requests or appeals, emphasizing the seriousness and genuineness of one’s intentions.
When to use 恳
Be cautious not to confuse 恳 with similar-sounding characters like 肯 (kěn) which means to agree or consent. It is generally used in more formal contexts, such as in writing or serious discussions. Common collocations include 恳求 (kěnqiú, to earnestly request) and 恳请 (kěnqǐng, to sincerely invite).
恳 or something close to it
恳 (kěn) vs 诚 (chéng) — use 恳 when emphasizing earnestness in requests, while 诚 focuses more on general sincerity or honesty.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 恳 with 肯 due to their similar sounds. For example, saying '我恳同意' (Wǒ kěn tóngyì) instead of '我肯同意' (Wǒ kěn tóngyì) which means 'I agree.' Use 恳 for sincerity, and 肯 for agreement.
Write 恳
恳
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Grammar Patterns of 恳
恳 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.
她凝视着他的眼睛，一脸诚____。
Her eyes stared into his with an expression of absolute honesty.
Example Sentences for 恳 (10)
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1
她凝视着他的眼睛，一脸诚恳。
tā níng shì zháo tā de yǎn jīng， ， yī liǎn chéng。
Her eyes stared into his with an expression of absolute honesty.
2
这个电话是一位绅士打来的，他似乎非常诚恳。
zhè gè diàn huà shì yī wèi shēn shì dǎ lái de， ， tā sì hū fēi cháng chéng。
I got this phone call from a gentleman, who seemed sincere enough.
3
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.
4
我默默地向葆拉投去恳求的目光。
wǒ mò mò dì xiàng bǎo lā tóu qù kěn qiú de mù guāng。
I threw a mute look of appeal at Paula.
5
“叫我厄尔！”他恳切地说。
“ “ jiào wǒ è！” ěr ！” tā kěn qiē。
"Call me Earl!" he entreated.
6
她恳求道：“别那么说。”
tā kěn qiú dào：“ ：“ bié nà mó。”
"Do not say that," she pleaded.
7
主啊，我们恳求您。
zhǔ ā， ， wǒ mén kěn qiú。
We beseech thee, O Lord.
8
她的声音尽管听起来很平谈, 但比大声的要求更加诚恳.
tā de shēng yīn jìn guǎn tīng qǐ lái hěn píng tán, , dàn bǐ dà shēng de yào qiú gēng jiā chéng.
Though her voice was toneless, it plead more loudly than words.
