Definitions

kěn (adjective) earnest; sincere

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound. Simplified form of .

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character "恳" originates from a traditional form that combined the heart radical with a component suggesting unremitting effort, forming an ideographic compound that conveyed the notion of heartfelt diligence or sincere entreaty. Its etymology reflects a conceptual blend where the heart signifies genuine emotion and the accompanying element implies persistent action, together denoting earnestness. Over time, the meaning has remained closely aligned with sincerity and earnest appeal, with the structural emphasis on the heart radical consistently underscoring the emotional authenticity inherent in the term. While the character's application broadened slightly from specific pleas to a more general attribute of genuine attitude, its fundamental sense of devoted and truthful expression has persisted.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Seal etymology image
Seal Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

他的态度很诚

Tā de tàidù hěn chéngkěn.

His attitude is very sincere.

请你原谅。

Wǒ kěnqǐng nǐ yuánliàng.

I earnestly ask for your forgiveness.

求妈妈同意。

Tā kěnqiú māma tóngyì.

She begged her mother to agree.

我们诚地邀请您参加。

Wǒmen chéngkěn de yāoqǐng nín cānjiā.

We sincerely invite you to attend.

切地表达了自己的意见。

Tā kěnqiè de biǎodá le zìjǐ de yìjiàn.

He earnestly expressed his own opinion.

尽管他求多次,老师还是没有答应。

Jǐnguǎn tā kěnqiú duō cì, lǎoshī háishì méiyǒu dāying.

Although he begged many times, the teacher still didn't agree.

我诚地希望你能理解我的苦衷。

Wǒ chéngkěn de xīwàng nǐ néng lǐjiě wǒ de kǔzhōng.

I sincerely hope you can understand my difficulties.

在会议上,他言辞切地提出了改进方案,赢得了大家的支持。

Zài huìyì shàng, tā yáncí kěnqiè de tíchū le gǎijìn fāng'àn, yíngdé le dàjiā de zhīchí.

At the meeting, he earnestly proposed an improvement plan with sincere words, winning everyone's support.