兢 meaning and stroke order
Fearful, cautious, wary
How to write 兢, stroke by stroke
14 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
- 1
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- 14
Meaning of 兢
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to be fearful
- apprehensive
How 兢 is built
Components of the character.
Radical: 儿 (son), shared by 24 characters on this site.
How to remember 兢
兢 (jīng) is two 克 (kè) standing side by side. Picture two people both straining to overcome a hard task, so careful and anxious that neither dares to slip.
兢 almost never appears alone in modern Chinese. You will meet it mainly in the idiom 兢兢业业 (jīngjīngyèyè), which praises someone for working diligently and conscientiously. Example: 他工作一直兢兢业业。(Tā gōngzuò yīzhí jīngjīngyèyè.) He has always worked conscientiously.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 兢 (jīng) with 竞 (jìng, to compete) because they sound alike and both appear in four-character phrases. Remember that 兢 is first tone and is built from two 克, while 竞 is fourth tone and has 立 on top.
Common words with 兢
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 兢兢业业 | jīngjīngyèyè | (idiom) conscientious; assiduous | HSK 7-9 |
兢 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Questions about 兢
How many strokes are in 兢?
兢 is written with 14 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 兢 mean?
兢 (jīng) means fearful, cautious, wary. A common word with it is 兢兢业业 (jīngjīngyèyè), meaning "(idiom) conscientious; assiduous".
How do you pronounce 兢?
兢 is pronounced jīng, in the first tone (high and level).
What is the radical of 兢?
The radical of 兢 is 儿, which carries the idea of "son". Dictionaries list 兢 under this radical.
Is 兢 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 兢 is part of the HSK 7-9 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard.
Is 兢兢业业 a positive or negative description?
It is positive. Although 兢 means fearful or cautious, the idiom describes someone who is careful, hardworking and responsible. It is often used to praise employees, teachers or officials.
What other phrase uses 兢 besides 兢兢业业?
Another common one is 战战兢兢 (zhànzhànjīngjīng), meaning trembling with fear or acting very cautiously. Unlike 兢兢业业, it focuses on nervousness rather than diligence.