挚 (zhì) - sincere, earnest & to grasp, to hold

挚Tone 4

zhì ｜ 10 strokes ｜ radical:

志

挚 · zhì

sincere, earnest;

to grasp, to hold;

intimate, close

sincere, earnestto grasp, to holdintimate, close

Usage highlights

sincere friendsincere feelingsearnest and sincereclose friendshipsincere loveto grasp firmly

Synonyms

  • 诚— sincere, honest
  • 真— true, genuine
  • 恳— earnest, sincere

Antonyms

  • 伪— false, fake
  • 虚— hollow, insincere

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He expressed his sincere feelings (真挚的感情).
  • They have a close friendship (挚友).
  • She held his hand tightly (挚着他的手).
  • The gift represents my earnest wishes (挚诚的祝愿).

Collocations

  • sincere friend(挚友)
  • sincere feelings(挚情)
  • earnest and sincere(挚诚)
  • close friendship(挚交)
  • sincere love(挚爱)
  • to grasp firmly(挚握)

Idioms

  • Sincere friendship(深情厚挚)
  • Earnest and sincere(恳挚真诚)
  • Close friends(挚交好友)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Originally meant 'to grasp, to hold' in ancient texts, later extended to mean 'sincere, earnest' in emotional connections.
  • In traditional culture, '挚友' represents the highest level of friendship, deeper than ordinary friends.
  • Used in classical texts to describe genuine, heartfelt emotions and relationships.

FAQ