Chinese character for respect: 敬 (jìng)
The Chinese character for respect is 敬 (jìng). It means to respect or honor someone and appears in 尊敬 (zūnjìng, to respect) and 敬意 (jìngyì, respect, tribute). It expresses respect shown with care and seriousness.
How 敬 is built
敬 has 苟 on the left and 攵 on the right. 攵 is a hand holding a stick and marks actions, while the left part is linked in old forms to being careful and alert. As a memory aid, respect is an action done with careful attention. The same left part appears in 警 (jǐng, to warn), which adds 言 (speech). 敬 is the same in simplified and traditional Chinese.
敬 jìng · to respect
- 苟gǒu — careless
- 艹cǎo — grass
- 句jù — sentence
- 勹bāo — wrap shape
- 口kǒu — mouth
- 攵pū — to rap
- 乂yì — crossed strokes
- 丿 — falling stroke
- 乂yì — crossed strokes
How 敬 is used
Other ways to say respect
- 尊重 zūnzhòng — to respect (opinions, rights), everyday modern word
Before you use it as a tattoo or design: 敬 is identical in both scripts; for 'respect' in a modern sense, 尊重 is the word most people use in speech.
Questions
What is the Chinese character for respect?
敬 (jìng) means “to respect”.
How do you pronounce 敬?
敬 is pronounced jìng.