敬 meaning and stroke order
(bound form) respectful; to respect; to offer politely
How to write 敬, stroke by stroke
12 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
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Meaning of 敬
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- (bound form) respectful; to respect
- to offer politely
How 敬 is built
Components of the character.
Radical: 攵 (to rap), shared by 36 characters on this site.
How to remember 敬
敬 is 苟 on the left and 攵 on the right. Picture 苟 as a person carefully minding their conduct, and 攵 as a hand with a stick urging them on, so together they show someone kept disciplined and respectful.
敬 is a bound form, so it usually appears inside words like 尊敬 (zūnjìng), 敬礼 (jìnglǐ), and 敬酒 (jìngjiǔ). It can also mean to offer something politely, especially a drink. Example: 我敬您一杯。(Wǒ jìng nín yì bēi.) Let me offer you a toast.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 敬 with 警 (jǐng, to warn, police), which is 敬 with 言 underneath and has a third tone. Also, do not write 苟 as 句 or drop the grass top 艹.
Common words with 敬
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 尊敬 | zūnjìng | to respect; to revere; to esteem; honorable; distinguished (used on formal occasions befor | HSK 5 |
| 致敬 | zhìjìng | to salute; to pay one's respects to | HSK 7-9 |
| 敬礼 | jìnglǐ | to salute; salute | HSK 7-9 |
| 敬意 | jìngyì | respect; esteem; high regard | HSK 7-9 |
| 敬佩 | jìngpèi | to esteem; to admire | HSK 7-9 |
| 敬重 | jìngzhòng | to respect deeply; to revere | HSK 7-9 |
| 敬酒 | jìngjiǔ | to toast; to propose a toast | HSK 7-9 |
| 敬爱 | jìng'ài | to respect and love; to hold in high esteem | HSK 7-9 |
| 敬请 | jìngqǐng | please (do sth) (deferential form) | HSK 7-9 |
| 孝敬 | xiàojìng | to show filial respect; to give presents (to one's elders or superiors) | HSK 7-9 |
| 敬业 | jìngyè | dedicated to one's work | HSK 7-9 |
| 敬而远之 | jìng'éryuǎnzhī | to show respect from a distance (idiom); to remain at a respectful distance | HSK 7-9 |
| 敬畏 | jìngwèi | to revere | |
| 可敬 | kějìng | venerable |
敬 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Characters that contain 敬
Learning 敬 makes these easier to recognize and write.
Questions about 敬
How many strokes are in 敬?
敬 is written with 12 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 敬 mean?
敬 (jìng) means (bound form) respectful; to respect; to offer politely. A common word with it is 尊敬 (zūnjìng), meaning "to respect; to revere; to esteem; honorable; distinguished (used on formal occasions befor".
How do you pronounce 敬?
敬 is pronounced jìng, in the fourth tone (falling).
What is the radical of 敬?
The radical of 敬 is 攵, which carries the idea of "to rap". Dictionaries list 敬 under this radical.
Is 敬 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 敬 is part of the HSK 5 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard, and you are expected to write it by hand from HSK 3.
What is the difference between 尊敬 and 敬佩?
尊敬 (zūnjìng) is general respect, often for elders, teachers, or people of status. 敬佩 (jìngpèi) adds admiration, usually for someone's achievements or character.
How is 敬酒 used at a Chinese dinner?
敬酒 (jìngjiǔ) means to raise your glass to someone and toast them, often a host, elder, or boss. A common phrase is 我敬你一杯 (wǒ jìng nǐ yì bēi), and juniors usually hold their glass a little lower as a sign of respect.