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尊敬 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
尊敬zūnjìngto respectHSK 5, v, 24 strokes, rank #2185, Hard
尊敬zūnjìngto revereHSK 5, v, 24 strokes, rank #2185, Hard
zūnjìng(zun1jing4)zun jing T1
  1. 1to respect
  2. 2to revere
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March 24, 2026

尊敬zūnjìng(zun1jing4)

尊敬 (zūn jìng) means to show respect or reverence towards someone or something, often indicating a deep appreciation for their qualities or status. It is commonly used in formal contexts, such as addressing elders, teachers, or in professional settings, where showing respect is culturally significant.

Strokes24Frequency#2185DifficultyHard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, showing 尊敬 is integral to social interactions, especially in familial and hierarchical relationships, reflecting Confucian values of filial piety and respect for authority.

Memory tip

Think of 尊 (zūn) as a 'sun' shining down on someone, elevating them, while 敬 (jìng) can remind you of 'kinking' down to bow respectfully. Visualize yourself bowing under a sun to represent your respect.

Meanings of 尊敬

zūnjìng(zun1jing4)
1to respect
2to revere
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 尊敬

尊敬Simplified
24Strokes
—Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#2185Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L5IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRB2

Podcast: 尊敬

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Podcast: 尊敬

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AI study notes for 尊敬

Quick Contrast

敬重 (jìngzhòng) vs 尊敬 (zūnjìng): use 尊敬 in more formal contexts, while 敬重 can imply a more personal or emotional respect.

Usage Notes

Be cautious with the tone of your voice when using 尊敬, as it conveys a formal level of respect. Common collocations include 尊敬的老师 (respected teacher) and 尊敬的长辈 (respected elder). Avoid using this term in casual contexts where a simple 'thank you' would suffice.

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK Level 5 word, 尊敬 connects with other terms related to respect and politeness, like 礼貌 (lǐ mào) and 敬意 (jìng yì). Focus on recognizing its usage in formal conversations and written communication.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 尊敬 with other similar words like 喜欢 (xǐ huān, to like), using it in inappropriate contexts. For example, saying '我尊敬这个食物' (wǒ zūn jìng zhè ge shí wù - I respect this food) is incorrect; it should be used for people or significant entities.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 尊敬

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Component characters

尊zūnsenior
HSK 412 strokes寸
View full entry
敬jìngto respect
HSK 712 strokes攵
View full entry

How to say to respect in Chinese

“to respect” in Chinese is尊敬zūnjìng

尊敬 (zūn jìng) means to show respect or reverence towards someone or something, often indicating a deep appreciation for their qualities or status. It is commonly used in formal contexts, such as addressing elders, teachers, or in professional settings, where showing respect is culturally significant.

When to use 尊敬

Be cautious with the tone of your voice when using 尊敬, as it conveys a formal level of respect. Common collocations include 尊敬的老师 (respected teacher) and 尊敬的长辈 (respected elder). Avoid using this term in casual contexts where a simple 'thank you' would suffice.

尊敬 or something close to it

敬重 (jìngzhòng) vs 尊敬 (zūnjìng): use 尊敬 in more formal contexts, while 敬重 can imply a more personal or emotional respect.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 尊敬 with other similar words like 喜欢 (xǐ huān, to like), using it in inappropriate contexts. For example, saying '我尊敬这个食物' (wǒ zūn jìng zhè ge shí wù - I respect this food) is incorrect; it should be used for people or significant entities.

Write 尊敬

尊
敬

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Grammar patterns of 尊敬

尊敬 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 2 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

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这份报纸的调查性新闻报道为其赢得了____。

The paper has earned respect for its investigative journalism.

Example sentences for 尊敬 (10)

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1
这份报纸的调查性新闻报道为其赢得了尊敬。

zhè fèn bàozhǐ de diàochá xìng xīnwén bàodào wèi qí yíngdé le zūnjìng。

The paper has earned respect for its investigative journalism.
2
他现在是一位教师,并且是社区内受人尊敬的一员。

tā xiànzài shì yī wèi jiàoshī, bìngqiě shì shèqū nèi shòu rén zūnjìng de yī yuán。

He was now a teacher and a respectable member of the community.
3
我想你得承认他是个备受尊敬的专栏作家。

wǒ xiǎng nǐ de chéngrèn tā shì gè bèishòu zūnjìng de zhuānlán zuòjiā。

I think you'd agree he's a very respected columnist.
4
他是一位锐意进取、竞争意识很强的主管,颇受尊敬。

tā shì yī wèi ruì yì jìnqǔ、 jìngzhēng yìshí hěn jiàng de zhǔguǎn, Pō shòu zūnjìng。

He is respected as a very aggressive and competitive executive.
5
学生们十分尊敬那些老教授.

xuéshēng men shífēn zūnjìng nàxiē lǎo jiàoshòu.

Students revere the old professors.
6
尊敬的阁下,我叫理查德·萨维奇。

zūnjìng de gé xià, wǒ jiào lǐ chá dé· sà wéi jī。

My name is Richard Savage, your Lordship.
7
他因年高而特别受人尊敬.

tā yīn nián gāo ér tèbié shòu rén zūnjìng.

He was particularly respected for his great age.
8
尊敬的先生,您10月9日的来信已转交我处。

zūnjìng de xiānsheng, nín10 yuè9 rì de láixìn yǐ zhuǎnjiāo wǒ chǔ。

Dear Sir, Your letter of the 9th October has been referred to us.
9
尊敬的女士,感谢您对我们的纪念方案的关注。

zūnjìng de nǚshì, gǎnxiè nín duì wǒmen de jìniàn fāngàn de guānzhù。

Dear Madam, Thank you for your interest in our Memorial Scheme.
10
那个人做这买卖赚了很多钱, 但他却失去了朋友们对他的尊敬.

nàge rén zuò zhè mǎimai zhuàn le hěn duō qián, dàn tā què shīqù le péngyou men duì tā de zūnjìng.

The man gained a lot in the business, but he lost the respect of his friends.

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Frequently asked questions about 尊敬

You can say 尊敬的老师 (zūn jìng de lǎo shī) to mean 'respected teacher'.

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