敬

See also: 茍

敬 U+656C, 敬 CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-656C ← 敫 [U+656B] CJK Unified Ideographs 敭 → [U+656D]

敬 U+2F8C9, 敬 CJK COMPATIBILITY IDEOGRAPH-2F8C9 ← 敏 [U+2F8C8] CJK Compatibility Ideographs Supplement 𣀊 → [U+2F8CA]

Translingual

Han character

敬 (Kangxi radical 66, 攴+9 in traditional Chinese and Korean, 攴+8 in mainland China and Japanese, 13 strokes in traditional Chinese and Korean, 12 strokes in mainland China and Japanese, cangjie input 廿口人大 (TROK), four-corner 4864₀, composition ⿰苟攵(GJKV) or ⿰茍攵(HT))

Derived characters

• 警, 驚, 擎, 憼, 擏, 儆, 㯳, 璥, 曔, 檠, 蟼, 㢣, 䜘, 𠧂, 𢢩, 𤀂, 𫱻, 𢐧, 𩼃, 𫄿

References

• KangXi: page 473, character 35
• Dai Kanwa Jiten: character 13285
• Dae Jaweon: page 826, character 17
• Hanyu Da Zidian (first edition): volume 2, page 1466, character 2
• Unihan data for U+656C

• Unihan data for U+2F8C9

---

Chinese

trad.		敬
simp. #		敬

Glyph origin

Historical forms of the character 敬
Western Zhou	Warring States	Shuowen Jiezi (compiled in Han)	Liushutong (compiled in Ming)
Bronze inscriptions	Chu slip and silk script	Small seal script	Transcribed ancient scripts

Characters in the same phonetic series (敬) (Zhengzhang, 2003) 

	Old Chinese
蟼	*kraː, *kreŋ, *kreŋʔ
憼	*kaŋʔ, *kreŋʔ
驚	*kreŋ
警	*kreŋʔ
儆	*kreŋʔ, *ɡreŋs
璥	*keŋʔ
檠	*kreŋʔ, *ɡreŋ, *ɡreŋs
敬	*kreŋs
擎	*ɡreŋ
曔	*ɡreŋs

Ideogrammic compound (會意): 茍 + 攵, the left component represents a sitting dog, the right component represents authority.

Etymology

Cognate with 驚 (OC *kreŋ, “to be afraid; to scare”) (Schuessler, 2007). See there for more.

Pronunciation

• Mandarin

  (Pinyin): jìng (jing⁴)

  (Zhuyin): ㄐㄧㄥˋ

• Cantonese (Jyutping): ging³
• Hakka (Sixian, PFS): kin
• Min Bei (KCR): ge̿ng
• Min Dong (BUC): géng
• Min Nan

  (Hokkien, POJ): kèng

  (Teochew, Peng'im): gêng³

---

• Mandarin
  • (Standard Chinese)⁺
    • Pinyin: jìng
    • Zhuyin: ㄐㄧㄥˋ
    • Gwoyeu Romatzyh: jinq
    • Tongyong Pinyin: jìng
    • Wade–Giles: ching4
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹/
• Cantonese
  • (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou)⁺
    • Jyutping: ging³
    • Yale: ging
    • Cantonese Pinyin: ging³
    • Guangdong Romanization: ging³
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /kɪŋ³³/
• Hakka
  • (Sixian, incl. Miaoli and Meinong)
    • Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: kin
    • Hakka Romanization System: gin
    • Hagfa Pinyim: gin⁴
    • Sinological IPA: /kin⁵⁵/
• Min Bei
  • (Jian'ou)
    • Kienning Colloquial Romanized: ge̿ng
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /keiŋ³³/
• Min Dong
  • (Fuzhou)
    • Bàng-uâ-cê: géng
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /kɛiŋ²¹³/
• Min Nan
  • (Hokkien)
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī: kèng
    • Tâi-lô: kìng
    • Phofsit Daibuun: kexng
    • IPA (Xiamen): /kiɪŋ²¹/
    • IPA (Quanzhou): /kiɪŋ⁴¹/
    • IPA (Zhangzhou): /kiɪŋ²¹/
    • IPA (Taipei): /kiɪŋ¹¹/
    • IPA (Kaohsiung): /kiɪŋ²¹/
  • (Teochew)
    • Peng'im: gêng³
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī-like: kèng
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /keŋ²¹³/

---

• Middle Chinese: /kˠiæŋ^H/

Rime
Character	敬
Reading #	1/1
Initial (聲)	見 (28)
Final (韻)	庚 (111)
Tone (調)	Departing (H)
Openness (開合)	Open
Division (等)	III
Fanqie	居慶切
Reconstructions
Zhengzhang Shangfang	/kˠiæŋH/
Pan Wuyun	/kᵚiaŋH/
Shao Rongfen	/kiaŋH/
Edwin Pulleyblank	/kiajŋH/
Li Rong	/kiɐŋH/
Wang Li	/kĭɐŋH/
Bernard Karlgren	/ki̯ɐŋH/
Expected Mandarin Reflex	jìng
Expected Cantonese Reflex	ging3

• Old Chinese

  (Baxter–Sagart): /*kreŋ(ʔ)-s/

  (Zhengzhang): /*kreŋs/

Baxter–Sagart system 1.1 (2014)
Character	敬
Reading #	1/1
Modern Beijing (Pinyin)	jìng
Middle Chinese	‹ kjængH ›
Old Chinese	/*kreŋ(ʔ)-s/
English	respectful
Notes for Old Chinese notations in the Baxter–Sagart system: * Parentheses "()" indicate uncertain presence; * Square brackets "[]" indicate uncertain identity, e.g. *[t] as coda may in fact be *-t or *-p; * Angle brackets "<>" indicate infix; * Hyphen "-" indicates morpheme boundary; * Period "." indicates syllable boundary.

Zhengzhang system (2003)
Character	敬
Reading #	1/1
No.	6885
Phonetic component	敬
Rime group	耕
Rime subdivision	0
Corresponding MC rime	敬
Old Chinese	/*kreŋs/

Definitions

敬

1. to respect; to honor
2. to present; to offer (alcohol, food, cigarettes, tea, etc.)
3. (literary, or in compounds) to concentrate completely on; to devote oneself to; to focus all of one's attention on
4. (literary, or in compounds) respectful; deferential
5. a surname

Synonyms

• (to respect):

edit

Synonyms of 敬

• 寅畏 (yínwèi) (literary)
• 尊崇 (zūnchóng)
• 尊敬 (zūnjìng)
• 尊重 (zūnzhòng)
• 崇尚 (chóngshàng)

• 崇拜 (chóngbài)
• 崇敬 (chóngjìng)
• 推崇 (tuīchóng)
• 敦尚 (dūnshàng) (literary)
• 敬服 (jìngfú)

• 敬畏 (jìngwèi)
• 敬重 (jìngzhòng)
• 畏服 (wèifú) (literary)
• 敬愛／敬爱 (jìng'ài)
• 誠忠／诚忠 (chéngzhōng) (literary)

• (to concentrate completely on):

edit

• 上心 (shàngxīn)
• 用心 (yòngxīn)

• 走心 (zǒuxīn)
• 專心／专心 (zhuānxīn)

• 專注／专注 (zhuānzhù)

• (respectful):

edit

• 恭敬 (gōngjìng)
• 敬虔 (jìngqián)
• 虔恪 (qiánkè) (literary)

• 虔敬 (qiánjìng)
• 恭順／恭顺 (gōngshùn)
• 莊嚴／庄严 (zhuāngyán)

• 莊敬／庄敬 (zhuāngjìng) (literary)
• 虔誠／虔诚 (qiánchéng)

Antonyms

• (to respect): 鄙 (bǐ)

Compounds

Derived terms from 敬

• 不敬 (bùjìng)
• 可敬 (kějìng)
• 回敬 (huíjìng)
• 大不敬 (dàbùjìng)
• 失敬 (shījìng)
• 奠敬
• 孝敬 (xiàojìng)
• 尊敬 (zūnjìng)
• 崇敬 (chóngjìng)
• 忒敬思
• 忠敬
• 恭恭敬敬 (gōnggōngjìngjìng)
• 恭敬 (gōngjìng)
• 敬上
• 敬之
• 敬事
• 敬事不暇
• 敬事房
• 敬亭山
• 敬仰 (jìngyǎng)
• 敬佩 (jìngpèi)
• 敬信 (Jìngxìn, “Jingxin”)
• 敬同
• 敬奉 (jìngfèng)
• 敬小慎微
• 敬心
• 敬思
• 敬悉
• 敬意 (jìngyì)
• 敬慎
• 敬慕 (jìngmù)
• 敬服 (jìngfú)
• 敬畏 (jìngwèi)
• 敬祝 (jìngzhù)
• 敬神
• 敬老慈幼
• 敬老院 (jìnglǎoyuàn)

• 敬若神明
• 敬身
• 敬酒 (jìngjiǔ)
• 敬重 (jìngzhòng)
• 敬陪末坐
• 敬陪末座
• 楮敬
• 炭敬
• 用代楮敬
• 程敬
• 脩敬
• 致敬 (zhìjìng)
• 茶敬
• 菲敬
• 虔敬 (qiánjìng)
• 起敬 (qǐjìng)
• 梁敬帝
• 主敬存誠／主敬存诚
• 奩敬／奁敬
• 屈尊敬賢／屈尊敬贤
• 廝抬廝敬／厮抬厮敬
• 廝敬廝愛／厮敬厮爱
• 彌敬／弥敬
• 慎始敬終／慎始敬终 (shènshǐjìngzhōng)
• 憐貧敬老／怜贫敬老
• 敬上愛下／敬上爱下
• 敬啟者／敬启者 (jìngqǐzhě)
• 敬天愛民／敬天爱民
• 敬姜猶績／敬姜犹绩
• 敬愛／敬爱 (jìng'ài)
• 敬懇者／敬恳者
• 敬懼／敬惧
• 敬授人時／敬授人时
• 敬時愛日／敬时爱日
• 敬業／敬业 (jìngyè)
• 敬業樂群／敬业乐群 (jìngyèlèqún)

• 敬業精神／敬业精神
• 敬禮／敬礼 (jìnglǐ)
• 敬稟者／敬禀者
• 敬稱／敬称 (jìngchēng)
• 敬老尊賢／敬老尊贤
• 敬老恤貧／敬老恤贫
• 敬老憐貧／敬老怜贫
• 敬老節／敬老节
• 敬而遠之／敬而远之 (jìng'éryuǎnzhī)
• 敬肅者／敬肃者
• 敬虔主義／敬虔主义 (jìngqiánzhǔyì)
• 敬詞／敬词 (jìngcí)
• 敬請／敬请 (jìngqǐng)
• 敬諾／敬诺
• 敬謝／敬谢
• 敬謝不敏／敬谢不敏
• 敬謹／敬谨
• 敬賢／敬贤 (jìngxián)
• 敬賢禮士／敬贤礼士 (jìngxiánlǐshì)
• 敬辭／敬辞 (jìngcí)
• 敬頌／敬颂
• 最敬禮／最敬礼 (zuìjìnglǐ)
• 欽敬／钦敬 (qīnjìng)
• 潔敬／洁敬
• 無以為敬／无以为敬
• 畢恭畢敬／毕恭毕敬 (bìgōngbìjìng)
• 相敬如賓／相敬如宾
• 節敬／节敬
• 肅然起敬／肃然起敬 (sùránqǐjìng)
• 至敬無文／至敬无文
• 莊敬／庄敬 (zhuāngjìng)
• 莊敬自強／庄敬自强
• 誠心敬意／诚心敬意
• 誠敬／诚敬
• 贄敬／贽敬
• 輕財敬士／轻财敬士

References

• “敬”, in 漢語多功能字庫 (Multi-function Chinese Character Database)‎^[1], 香港中文大學 (the Chinese University of Hong Kong), 2014–
• “Entry #9524”, in 臺灣閩南語常用詞辭典 [Dictionary of Frequently-Used Taiwan Minnan] (in Chinese and Min Nan), Ministry of Education, R.O.C., 2011.

---

Japanese

Kanji

敬

(grade 6 “Kyōiku” kanji)

Readings

• Go-on: きょう (kyō)^{←きやう (kyau, historical)}
• Kan-on: けい (kei, Jōyō)
• Kun: うやまう (uyamau, 敬う, Jōyō)
• Nanori: け (ke); たか (taka); たかし (takashi); たけ (take); とし (toshi); のり (nori); ひろ (hiro); ゆき (yuki); よし (yoshi)

Compounds

Compounds

• 敬(けい)愛(あい) (keiai): respect and affection
• 敬(けい)畏(い) (keii): reverence, holding in awe, fear
• 敬(けい)意(い) (keii): respect
• 敬(けい)遠(えん) (keien): keeping at a distance
• 敬(けい)具(ぐ) (keigu): a respectful closing statement
• 敬(けい)虔(けん) (keiken): pious
• 敬(けい)語(ご) (keigo): honorifics
• 敬(けい)神(しん) (keishin): piety
• 敬(けい)称(しょう) (keishō): title of honor
• 敬(けい)体(たい) (keitai): distal style

• 敬(けい)白(はく) (keihaku): Yours Sincerely
• 敬(けい)服(ふく) (keifuku): admiration
• 敬(けい)慕(ぼ) (keibo): love and respect
• 敬(けい)礼(れい) (keirei): salute, bow
• 敬(けい)老(ろう) (keirō): respect for elders
• 敬(けい)譲(じょう)語(ご) (keijōgo): polite speech
• 敬(けい)天(てん)愛(あい)人(じん) (keiten aijin): "Revere heaven, love people."
• 失(しっ)敬(けい) (shikkei): rude
• 尊(そん)敬(けい) (sonkei): respect

Archaic

• 敬(けい)啓(けい) (keikei): salutation at end of formal letter
• 敬(けい)呈(てい) (keitei): salutation in a formal letter

Etymology 1

Kanji in this term
敬
けい Grade: 6
on’yomi

From Middle Chinese 敬 (kjæng^H, “respectful”).

Pronunciation

• On’yomi: Kan’on
• IPA^(key): [ke̞ː]

Affix

敬(けい) • (kei) 

1. respect, honor, reverence

Usage notes

Used in kanji compounds. Not used in isolation except as a suru verb. See 敬する.

Derived terms

• 敬(けい)する (kei suru): to respect, to esteem

Etymology 2

Kanji in this term
敬
うやまい Grade: 6
kun’yomi

The 連用形 (ren'yōkei, “continuative or stem form”) of verb 敬う (uyamau, “to respect, to esteem”).

Pronunciation

• Kun’yomi
• IPA^(key): [ɯ̟ᵝja̠ma̠i]

Alternative forms

• 敬(うやま)い (uyamai)

Noun

敬(うやまい) • (uyamai) 

1. respect, esteem

Usage notes

More commonly spelled as 敬い with the okurigana.

Etymology 3

Used as ateji in various names.

Proper noun

敬(たかし) • (Takashi) 

1. a male given name

---

Korean

Hanja

敬 (eumhun 공경할 경 (gonggyeonghal gyeong))

1. Hanja form^? of 경 (“respect, honor”).
2. Hanja form^? of 경 (“respectfully”).

---

Vietnamese

Han character

敬: Hán Việt readings: kính (居(cư)慶(khánh)切(thiết))
敬: Nôm readings: kính, kỉnh, kinh

1. chữ Hán form of kính (“to respect”).

Compounds

• 恭敬 (cung kính)
• 敬重 (kính trọng)