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March 24, 2026
敬jìng(jing4)
The character 敬 (jìng) means to respect or honor someone or something. It is often used in formal contexts, such as in greetings, ceremonies, or when referring to elders or authority figures. The nuance of this word conveys a sense of deep admiration and deference, making it important in both social and cultural interactions.
Strokes12Radical攵Frequency#2572DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, respect is deeply rooted in Confucian values, where honoring elders and authority is paramount. The use of 敬 in language reflects this cultural emphasis on hierarchy and reverence.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person standing upright, hands at their sides, showing respect. The left side of the character 敬 resembles a person (亻) in a respectful stance, while the right side (敬) can be visualized as a saluting gesture. Combine the image of a respectful person with the sound 'jìng' to remember its meaning.
Meanings of 敬
jìng(jing4)
1to respect
2to venerate
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
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About 敬
敬Simplified
12Strokes
攵Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#2572Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 敬
Podcast: 敬
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AI Study Notes for 敬
Quick Contrast
敬 (jìng, respect) vs 尊 (zūn, honor) — use 敬 when emphasizing respect in social interactions, while 尊 conveys a more formal or hierarchical sense of honor.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a person standing upright, hands at their sides, showing respect. The left side of the character 敬 resembles a person (亻) in a respectful stance, while the right side (敬) can be visualized as a saluting gesture. Combine the image of a respectful person with the sound 'jìng' to remember its meaning.
Usage Notes
敬 is often used in formal language and can be part of phrases like 敬礼 (jìnglǐ), meaning 'to salute'. A common mistake is using it in informal contexts, as it may sound overly stiff or insincere. Make sure to use the correct tone, as mispronouncing it can lead to misunderstandings.
HSK Study Tips
While 敬 is not an HSK vocabulary word, it is related to concepts of respect and politeness that are crucial at HSK 3 and above. Students should focus on using it in appropriate social contexts and recognize its usage in phrases and idioms.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, respect is deeply rooted in Confucian values, where honoring elders and authority is paramount. The use of 敬 in language reflects this cultural emphasis on hierarchy and reverence.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 敬 with other respect-related terms like 尊重 (zūnzhòng), which means 'to value' rather than 'to respect'. For example, saying '我尊重你' (wǒ zūnzhòng nǐ) is correct, but using 敬 in a casual setting sounds awkward.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 敬
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Grammar Patterns of 敬
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 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.
He was now a teacher and a respectable member of the community.
5
身为少尉，他几乎是逢人便得敬礼。
shēn wéi shǎo wèi， ， tā jī hū shì féng rén biàn dé jìng。
As a second lieutenant, he had to salute damned near everybody.
6
他需要从他敬重的人那里获得建议，而他一向都很敬重你。
tā xū yào cóng tā jìng zhòng de rén nà lǐ huò dé jiàn yì， ， ér tā yī xiàng dū hěn jìng zhòng。
He needs the advice of people he respects, and he respects you.
7
所有认识他的人都敬佩他所做的工作。
suǒ yǒu rèn shí tā de rén dū jìng pèi tā suǒ zuò de gōng zuò。
All those who knew him will admire him for his work.
8
那首歌是对罗伊·奥比森的致敬。
nà shǒu gē shì duì luó yī· · ào bǐ sēn de zhì。
The song is a tribute to Roy Orbison.
9
她的中国朋友们说这位女皇是他们值得敬仰的祖先。
tā de zhōng guó péng yǒu mén shuō zhè wèi nǚ huáng shì tā mén zhí dé jìng yǎng de zǔ xiān。
Her Chinese friends referred to the Empress as their venerable ancestor.
10
我想你得承认他是个备受尊敬的专栏作家。
wǒ xiǎng nǐ dé chéng rèn tā shì gè bèi shòu zūn jìng de zhuān lán zuò jiā。
I think you'd agree he's a very respected columnist.
Cultural Notes for 敬
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, respect is deeply rooted in Confucian values, where honoring elders and authority is paramount. The use of 敬 in language reflects this cultural emphasis on hierarchy and reverence.
🌏Cross-cultural Insight
While respect is valued in both Chinese and Western cultures, the expression of respect, such as through language and formalities, tends to be more pronounced in Chinese interactions.
Word Family of 敬
Compounds10
警jing3to alert
擎qing2to raise (hand)
儆jing3to warn; warning
檠qing2lamp stand; bow frame
璥
憼
擏
曔
蟼
驚jing1to frighten, to startle; surprise, alarm
Words Containing This Character20
尊敬zūnjìngto respect
敬jìngto respect
致敬zhìjìngto greet
敬请jìngqǐngplease (do sth) (deferential form)敬請
敬意jìngyìrespect
敬业jìngyèto respect one's work敬業
敬礼jìnglǐto salute敬禮
敬佩jìngpèito esteem
敬畏to revere
敬爱jìng’àirespect and love敬愛
敬重jìngzhòngto revere
恭敬gōngjìngdeferential
敬仰to revere
孝敬xiàojìngto show filial respect
崇敬chóngjìngto revere
敬酒jìngjiǔto toast
可敬venerable
郭敬明Guo Jingming (1983-), Chinese young-adult fiction writer and teen pop idol
敬老院nursing home
回敬to return a compliment
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 警 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 敬
Common phrases that include 敬 (jìng) are '敬请' (jìngqǐng), meaning 'respectfully invite,' and '敬业' (jìngyè), which means 'dedicated to one's work.' These phrases highlight the importance of respect in various contexts.
In Chinese culture, 敬 (jìng) is a key concept that reflects the value placed on respect among individuals, especially towards elders and authority figures. It is often seen in rituals, ceremonies, and everyday interactions, emphasizing the importance of maintaining harmony and showing reverence.
敬 (jìng) means to respect or to venerate. It conveys a sense of honor and reverence towards others. This character is often used in formal contexts, such as when saluting someone or offering a gesture of respect.
You can use 敬 (jìng) in a sentence to express respect, such as '我敬重我的老师' (Wǒ jìngzhòng wǒ de lǎoshī), meaning 'I respect my teacher.' It can also be used in phrases like '敬礼' (jìnglǐ), which means 'salute.'
Yes, 敬 is primarily used in formal contexts and when showing respect to others.
It's generally reserved for formal situations or when addressing elders, as using it among friends may come off as overly formal.
You can say 敬请 (jìngqǐng), which means 'respectfully invite'.
