HSK 7, d, 13 strokes, radical 讠, rank #9433, Very Hard
谨
jǐn
careful
HSK 7, d, 13 strokes, radical 讠, rank #9433, Very Hard
谨
jǐn
solemnly
HSK 7, d, 13 strokes, radical 讠, rank #9433, Very Hard
谨
jǐn
sincerely (formal)
HSK 7, d, 13 strokes, radical 讠, rank #9433, Very Hard
谨
jǐn
prudent, cautious, attentive
HSK 7, d, 13 strokes, radical 讠, rank #9433, Very Hard
jǐn(jin3) T3
1cautious
2careful
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March 24, 2026
谨(謹)jǐn(jin3)
The character 谨 (jǐn) means cautious or careful, often used to describe a person who is attentive and prudent in their actions. It conveys a sense of seriousness and sincerity, particularly in formal contexts, such as when expressing respect or solemnity in speech or writing.
Strokes13Radical讠Frequency#9433DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, being 谨 is often associated with showing respect during important events, such as weddings or ceremonies, where solemnity is expected. It reflects the value placed on humility and attentiveness in social interactions.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person holding a 'j' (like a hook) and being very careful not to drop a precious glass (the radical 言, meaning 'speech' or 'words'). This image helps you remember that 谨 is about being careful with your words and actions.
Meanings of 谨
jǐn(jin3)
1cautious
2careful
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 谨
谨Simplified
謹Traditional
13Strokes
讠Radical
副词fùcíadverb (adv.)Part of Speech
#9433Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7
Podcast: 谨
Podcast: 谨
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AI Study Notes for 谨
Quick Contrast
小心 (xiǎoxīn, careful) - use 谨 (jǐn) for a more formal or serious tone, while 小心 (xiǎoxīn) is more casual.
Usage Notes
Common mistakes include using 谨 in overly casual situations; it is more appropriate in formal contexts. Learners often confuse it with similar words like 小心 (xiǎoxīn, to be careful) but 谨 carries a more serious tone. Collocations include 谨慎 (jǐnshèn, careful) and 谨言慎行 (jǐnyán shènxíng, to speak and act with caution).
HSK Study Tips
While 谨 is not in the HSK vocabulary lists, it connects to other HSK words related to caution and seriousness. Students should focus on the pronunciation and usage in formal contexts to enhance their vocabulary on expressing caution.
Common Mistakes
Learners often misuse 谨 in informal contexts, such as saying '我很谨' (Wǒ hěn jǐn) instead of '我很小心' (Wǒ hěn xiǎoxīn). Remember that 谨 is more formal and should be reserved for serious discussions.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 谨
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Phonosemantic compound. 讠 represents the meaning and 堇 represents the sound. Simplified form of 謹.
1The meaning half讠 carries the sense.
2The sound half堇 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawayspeech
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 谨? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 谨?
Decomposition of 谨
IDS Structure⿰讠堇
谨Full Character
=
讠yan2
left
堇jin3
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 谨?
How to say cautious in Chinese
“cautious” in Chinese is谨jǐn
The character 谨 (jǐn) means cautious or careful, often used to describe a person who is attentive and prudent in their actions. It conveys a sense of seriousness and sincerity, particularly in formal contexts, such as when expressing respect or solemnity in speech or writing.
When to use 谨
Common mistakes include using 谨 in overly casual situations; it is more appropriate in formal contexts. Learners often confuse it with similar words like 小心 (xiǎoxīn, to be careful) but 谨 carries a more serious tone. Collocations include 谨慎 (jǐnshèn, careful) and 谨言慎行 (jǐnyán shènxíng, to speak and act with caution).
谨 or something close to it
小心 (xiǎoxīn, careful) - use 谨 (jǐn) for a more formal or serious tone, while 小心 (xiǎoxīn) is more casual.
What learners get wrong
Learners often misuse 谨 in informal contexts, such as saying '我很谨' (Wǒ hěn jǐn) instead of '我很小心' (Wǒ hěn xiǎoxīn). Remember that 谨 is more formal and should be reserved for serious discussions.
Write 谨
谨
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Practice writing 谨 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 谨
谨 functions as an adverb — it modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb. In Chinese, adverbs sit BEFORE the verb they modify (我也去, 他常常迟到), never after it. It carries 5 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.
