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慎重 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
慎重shènzhòngcautiousHSK 7, a, 22 strokes, rank #10365, Very Hard
慎重shènzhòngcarefulHSK 7, a, 22 strokes, rank #10365, Very Hard
慎重shènzhòngprudentHSK 7, a, 22 strokes, rank #10365, Very Hard
shènzhòng(shen4zhong4)shen zhong T4
  1. 1cautious
  2. 2careful
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March 24, 2026

慎重shènzhòng(shen4zhong4)

慎重 (shèn zhòng) means being cautious, careful, or prudent in decision-making or actions. It is often used in contexts where careful consideration is necessary, such as in business negotiations, personal decisions, or when giving advice. The term carries a connotation of seriousness and thoughtfulness.

Strokes22Frequency#10365DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, being 慎重 is highly valued, particularly in contexts like business dealings or family decisions, where careful thought reflects respect for others. This cultural emphasis on prudence can be seen in traditional sayings that encourage thoughtful consideration.

Memory Tip

Imagine a 'shy zone' (shèn zhòng sounds like 'shy zone') where people are very careful about what they say and do. The character 慎 combines the heart (心) and the idea of being cautious (慎), evoking the image of someone weighing their words carefully with their heart.

Meanings of 慎重

shènzhòng(shen4zhong4)
1cautious
2careful
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 慎重

慎重Simplified
22Strokes
—Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#10365Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

Podcast: 慎重

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Podcast: 慎重

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AI Study Notes for 慎重

Quick Contrast

谨慎 (jǐnshèn) vs 小心 (xiǎoxīn) — choose 慎重 when emphasizing a serious and thoughtful approach over a general notion of being careful.

Usage Notes

Common mistakes include confusing 慎重 with related terms like 小心 (xiǎo xīn), which means 'careful' but may lack the depth of prudence. It's typically used in formal contexts, so avoid using it in casual conversations. Be mindful of pronunciation; the tones must be correct: shèn (4th tone) and zhòng (4th tone).

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK 6 word, 慎重 is useful for expressing nuanced opinions and advice. Students should focus on using it in complex sentences and understanding its role in formal writing or discussions, linking it to other HSK 6 vocabulary related to decision-making.

Common Mistakes

Learners often misuse 慎重 by applying it to light-hearted situations, where simpler terms like 小心 would suffice. For example, saying 'I was 慎重 about my weekend plans' is incorrect; it should be 'I was 小心 about my weekend plans.'

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 慎重

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Component Characters

慎shèncareful
13 strokes忄
View full entry
重zhòngheavy
HSK 49 strokes里
View full entry

How to say cautious in Chinese

“cautious” in Chinese is慎重shènzhòng

慎重 (shèn zhòng) means being cautious, careful, or prudent in decision-making or actions. It is often used in contexts where careful consideration is necessary, such as in business negotiations, personal decisions, or when giving advice. The term carries a connotation of seriousness and thoughtfulness.

When to use 慎重

Common mistakes include confusing 慎重 with related terms like 小心 (xiǎo xīn), which means 'careful' but may lack the depth of prudence. It's typically used in formal contexts, so avoid using it in casual conversations. Be mindful of pronunciation; the tones must be correct: shèn (4th tone) and zhòng (4th tone).

慎重 or something close to it

谨慎 (jǐnshèn) vs 小心 (xiǎoxīn) — choose 慎重 when emphasizing a serious and thoughtful approach over a general notion of being careful.

What learners get wrong

Learners often misuse 慎重 by applying it to light-hearted situations, where simpler terms like 小心 would suffice. For example, saying 'I was 慎重 about my weekend plans' is incorrect; it should be 'I was 小心 about my weekend plans.'

Write 慎重

慎
重

Practice writing 慎重 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Grammar Patterns of 慎重

慎重 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 3 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 1

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

她那更为____的答复会受到选民的欢迎。

Her more measured response will appeal to voters.

Example Sentences for 慎重 (1)

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1
她那更为慎重的答复会受到选民的欢迎。

tā nà gēng wéi shèn zhòng de dá fù huì shòu dào xuǎn mín de huān yíng。

Her more measured response will appeal to voters.

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Frequently Asked Questions about 慎重

Use 慎重 when you want to convey a deeper sense of prudence and careful consideration, particularly in serious or formal situations, whereas 小心 is more about being cautious in general.

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