謙 (qiān) - Humble, modest — describes a person who is & a fundamental virtue in Confucian ethics.

謙Tone 1

qiān ｜ 17 strokes ｜ radical:

器情

謙 · qiān

Humble, modest — describes a person who is unassuming, not arrogant, and shows deference to others;

a fundamental virtue in Confucian ethics.

Humble, modest — describes a person who isa fundamental virtue in Confucian ethics.

Usage highlights

Modest and courteousHumble and prudentModest and yieldingHumble wordsModest virtueHumble attitude

Synonyms

  • 逊— modest, humble
  • 虚— humble, unassuming

Antonyms

  • 傲— arrogant, proud
  • 满— conceited, self-satisfied

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He is a very humble person (谦逊的人).
  • She accepted the award with modesty (谦逊地接受).
  • We should maintain a humble attitude (谦和的态度).
  • He modestly declined the praise (谦辞了赞美).

Collocations

  • Modest and courteous(谦恭)
  • Humble and prudent(谦慎)
  • Modest and yielding(谦让)
  • Humble words(谦辞)
  • Modest virtue(谦德)
  • Humble attitude(谦和)

Idioms

  • Modesty helps one go forward, conceit makes one lag behind(谦受益，满招损)
  • A modest gentleman(谦谦君子)
  • Humble and respectful(谦敬)
  • Hold oneself modestly and yield to others(谦躬下士)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • A core Confucian virtue representing proper conduct and moral cultivation.
  • Highly valued in Chinese culture as essential for social harmony and personal growth.
  • The concept appears frequently in classical texts like the I Ching (Book of Changes).

FAQ