勤

懃

qín

力 + 堇

Definitions

qín (adjective) diligent; hardworking; industrious

qín (adjective) frequent; regular

qín (verb) to work hard; to be diligent

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 力 represents the meaning and 堇 represents the sound. Simplified form of 懃.

Semantic: 力 Phonetic: 堇

About

勤 is a phonosemantic compound: the right side 力 means 'strength, physical labor,' and the left side 堇 gives the sound. It is the simplified form of 懃. The strength radical directly evokes hard work, diligence, and the sustained exertion typical of agriculture and other professions. This core idea of tireless effort extended to an adverbial sense of frequency, meaning 'often, regularly, constantly,' reflecting the consistent repetition inherent in diligent labor.

Etymology Hide

Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)

Bronze Late Warring States (~250 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical Cao Wei (Three Kingdoms: 222-280 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

她每天都很勤快。

Tā měitiān dōu hěn qínkuài.

She is very diligent every day.

勤奋学习才能成功。

Qínfèn xuéxí cáinéng chénggōng.

Only by studying diligently can one succeed.

他勤于练习，所以进步很快。

Tā qín yú liànxí, suǒyǐ jìnbù hěn kuài.

He is diligent in practice, so he improves quickly.

勤劳的农民在田里干活。

Qínláo de nóngmín zài tián lǐ gànhuó.

The hardworking farmers are working in the fields.

由于她勤勉工作，得到了晋升。

Yóuyú tā qínmiǎn gōngzuò, dédàole jìnshēng.

Because of her diligent work, she got a promotion.

勤洗手是预防疾病的好方法。

Qín xǐ shǒu shì yùfáng jíbìng de hǎo fāngfǎ.

Washing hands frequently is a good way to prevent diseases.

他不仅勤奋，而且非常聪明。

Tā bùjǐn qínfèn, érqiě fēichāng cōngmíng.

He is not only diligent but also very smart.

在学术研究中，勤于思考和创新至关重要。

Zài xuéshù yánjiū zhōng, qín yú sīkǎo hé chuàngxīn zhìguān zhòngyào.

In academic research, being diligent in thinking and innovation is crucial.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 力

Component: 堇

勤