谨 meaning and stroke order
Prudent, cautious, attentive
How to write 谨, stroke by stroke
13 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 谨
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- cautious
- careful
- solemnly
- sincerely (formal)
How 谨 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Speech.
讠 gives the meaning and 堇 hints at the sound.
Radical: 讠 (words), shared by 144 characters on this site.
How to remember 谨
谨 combines the speech radical 讠 with 堇 (jǐn), which gives the sound. Think of it as being careful with your words: you watch what you say, so you are cautious.
谨 rarely stands alone in speech. It appears in words like 谨慎 (jǐnshèn) and 严谨 (yánjǐn), and in formal phrases such as 谨记 (jǐnjì). Example: 他做事很谨慎。(Tā zuòshì hěn jǐnshèn.) He is very careful in how he does things.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 谨 with 仅 (jǐn, only) and 紧 (jǐn, tight), which share the same sound and tone. Also watch the right side 堇: it is not 革 or 黄, so check the strokes carefully.
Common words with 谨
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
谨 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Questions about 谨
How many strokes are in 谨?
谨 is written with 13 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 谨 mean?
谨 (jǐn) means prudent, cautious, attentive. A common word with it is 谨慎 (jǐnshèn), meaning "cautious; prudent".
How do you pronounce 谨?
谨 is pronounced jǐn, in the third tone (dipping).
What is the radical of 谨?
The radical of 谨 is 讠, which carries the idea of "words". Dictionaries list 谨 under this radical.
What is the traditional form of 谨?
The traditional form of 谨 is 謹. Traditional characters are used in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau; 谨 is the simplified form used in mainland China and Singapore.
Is 谨 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 谨 is part of the HSK 7-9 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard.
What is the difference between 谨慎 and 小心?
小心 (xiǎoxīn) is everyday and often used as a warning, like 小心！for 'watch out.' 谨慎 is more formal and describes a careful, prudent attitude in decisions or behavior.
How is 谨 used in formal letters or speeches?
谨 can mean 'respectfully' or 'sincerely' before a verb, as in 谨代表公司表示感谢 (jǐn dàibiǎo gōngsī biǎoshì gǎnxiè), 'on behalf of the company, I sincerely express thanks.' This use sounds polite and official.