謙 meaning and stroke order
Humble, modest
How to write 謙, stroke by stroke
17 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 謙
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- modest
How 謙 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Speech.
言 gives the meaning and 兼 hints at the sound.
Radical: 言 (words), shared by 155 characters on this site.
How to remember 謙
謙 combines 言 (speech) with 兼 (jiān), which gives the sound. Picture someone whose speech is modest: they talk about themselves with humility.
謙 (simplified 谦) almost always appears in compound words like 谦虚 (qiānxū) and 谦逊 (qiānxùn) rather than alone. 谦虚 is very common for praising someone's modest attitude. Example: 他很谦虚。(Tā hěn qiānxū.) He is very modest.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 謙 (qiān) with 嫌 (xián, to dislike) and 廉 (lián, cheap, honest) because all three contain 兼. Check the left side: only the speech radical 言 gives the meaning humble.
Common words with 謙
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
Questions about 謙
How many strokes are in 謙?
謙 is written with 17 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 謙 mean?
謙 (qiān) means humble, modest. A common word with it is 谦虚 (qiānxū), meaning "modest; self-effacing".
How do you pronounce 謙?
謙 is pronounced qiān, in the first tone (high and level).
What is the radical of 謙?
The radical of 謙 is 言, which carries the idea of "words". Dictionaries list 謙 under this radical.
What is the simplified form of 謙?
謙 is a traditional character. Its simplified form is 谦, used in mainland China and Singapore.
How do I say 'you're too kind' or 'don't be modest' in Chinese?
People often say 你太谦虚了 (nǐ tài qiānxū le), meaning you are being too modest. It is a polite reply when someone downplays their own skill.
What is the difference between 谦虚 and 谦卑?
谦虚 (qiānxū) is the everyday word for modest and is always positive. 谦卑 (qiānbēi) is stronger and more formal, suggesting lowering oneself, and often appears in religious or literary writing.