恭 gōng polite
polite; respectful; reverent
怎么记住“恭”: 共 collectively + ⺗ heart = polite. The whole class stands up collectively, hand on heart, when the old teacher walks in, quiet and polite.
部件结构
形声 · Meaning + sound
One part gives the meaning, the other gives the sound.
恭 = 共 collectively + ⺗ heart
- 共 collectively sound
- 龷 bacon rashers
- 八 eight
- ⺗ heart meaning
The whole class stands up collectively, hand on heart, when the old teacher walks in, quiet and polite.
How it came to be
The heart at the bottom gives the meaning and the part above gives the sound.
用法
- 恭 is bound and formal, meaning respectful/deferential, best known through the everyday greeting 恭喜 (gōngxǐ) "congratulations".
- 恭喜恭喜! (gōngxǐ gōngxǐ) is a standard reply when someone shares good news; 恭喜发财 (gōngxǐ fācái) is the classic Chinese New Year greeting, "wishing you wealth".
- 恭敬 (gōngjìng) describes respectful, deferential behavior toward an elder or superior, and 恭维 (gōngwéi) means to flatter/pay compliments, sometimes insincerely.