钦 qīn to respect
to respect; to admire
How to remember 钦: 钅 gold + 欠 to lack = to respect. The young athlete with a gold medal but lacking any arrogance is someone the whole village learns to respect.
Component breakdown
会意 · Meaning + meaning
Two or more parts whose meanings together make the new meaning.
钦 = 钅 gold + 欠 to lack
- 钅 gold meaning + sound
- 欠 to lack meaning
The young athlete with a gold medal but lacking any arrogance is someone the whole village learns to respect.
How it came to be
A kneeling person and precious gold, the gold also giving the sound.
How it is used
- Modern use is admiration/respect: 钦佩 (qīnpèi) to admire deeply, 敬钦 to hold in esteem; 我很钦佩他的勇气 (wǒ hěn qīnpèi tā de yǒngqì) I really admire his courage.
- 钦佩 is stronger and more formal than plain 佩服; it implies looking up to someone's character.
- Historically 'imperial,' as in 钦差 (qīnchāi) an emperor's envoy: a fossilized sense you'll meet only in history.