zūnjìng: 尊敬 - To Respect, To Revere

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Summary: Learn the deep meaning of 尊敬 (zūnjìng), the Chinese word for a profound and formal type of respect. More than just politeness, `zūnjìng` is a core cultural value in China, essential for interacting with elders, teachers, and superiors. This guide explores its cultural roots in Confucianism, how to use it in modern conversation, and how it differs from the more general term `尊重 (zūnzhòng)`.

Pinyin (with tone marks): zūnjìng

Part of Speech: Verb, Noun

HSK Level: HSK 4

Concise Definition: To hold someone in high esteem and reverence due to their age, status, or wisdom.

In a Nutshell: Think of 尊敬 (zūnjìng) as “respect” turned up to a ten. It’s not the casual, mutual respect you have for a friend, but a deep, formal, and often upward-facing respect shown towards someone of a higher status. This includes parents, grandparents, teachers, and senior colleagues. It carries a sense of reverence and acknowledgment of their position and wisdom.

尊 (zūn): This character originally depicted a ceremonial wine vessel held with two hands, used in rituals to honor ancestors or deities. From this, it evolved to mean “to honor,” “to esteem,” “senior,” or “venerable.”

敬 (jìng): This character signifies a sense of caution, reverence, and respect. It implies a serious and careful attitude. Think of the posture of someone bowing or handling a precious object with great care.

When combined, 尊敬 (zūnjìng) literally means “to honor and revere.” The characters reinforce each other to create a word that describes a profound, serious, and formal type of respect.

尊敬 is a cornerstone of Chinese social structure, deeply influenced by Confucian philosophy. It is a key component of 孝顺 (xiàoshùn), or filial piety, which dictates that children must show respect, obedience, and care for their parents and elders. This extends to teachers, who are seen as intellectual parents, and anyone senior in age or position.

Comparison to Western “Respect”: In American or Western culture, “respect” is often seen as something that must be earned through actions and can be mutual between equals (e.g., “I respect your opinion, even if I disagree”). 尊敬 (zūnjìng), however, is often positional and obligatory. One is expected to show `尊敬` to a teacher or an elder by default, regardless of personal feelings or whether you think they've “earned” it in a Western sense. It’s a fundamental part of maintaining social harmony and acknowledging a person's role in the social hierarchy. Disagreeing with an elder might be seen as a lack of `尊敬`.

Formality: `尊敬` is a very formal word. Using it in a casual conversation with a peer would sound strange and create distance. For mutual respect among friends or colleagues of the same level, the word 尊重 (zūnzhòng) is far more appropriate.

“False Friend” with English “Respect”: While it translates to “respect,” `尊敬` does not cover all uses of the English word. You would not use `尊敬` to say “I respect your decision” or “respect for the law.” In those cases, 尊重 (zūnzhòng) is the appropriate term. `尊敬` is almost exclusively for people of higher status or moral standing.

尊重 (zūnzhòng) - The general term for “respect.” It is broader, more common, and used for respect between equals, respect for ideas, rules, or choices.

敬爱 (jìng'ài) - To respect and love. This term combines reverence with affection and is often used for beloved teachers or mentors like Premier Zhou Enlai.

孝顺 (xiàoshùn) - Filial piety. The specific, culturally-mandated respect, obedience, and care that children must show to their parents and elders. `尊敬` is a major part of being `孝顺`.

崇拜 (chóngbài) - To worship, to adore. Much stronger than `尊敬`, this is used for pop idols, religious figures, or someone you idolize to an extreme degree.

佩服 (pèifú) - To admire. This is respect for a specific skill, talent, or accomplishment. You might `佩服` a friend's ability to code, but you would `尊敬` your grandfather for his life experience.

礼貌 (lǐmào) - Politeness, manners. This refers to courteous behavior, which is an outward expression of respect, but not the deep feeling of `尊敬` itself.

长辈 (zhǎngbèi) - Elders, seniors. A social category of people who are automatically owed `尊敬`.

老师 (lǎoshī) - Teacher. Along with parents, teachers are the most common recipients of `尊敬` in Chinese society.