矜

jīn

今 + 矛

Definitions

jīn to boast; to esteem; to sympathize

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 矛 represents the meaning and 今 represents the sound.

Semantic: 矛 Phonetic: 今

About

A phonosemantic compound: 矛 'spear' indicates the meaning, while 今 gives the sound. The character originally denoted the wooden shaft or handle of a lance, but this concrete sense later shifted toward abstract psychological and social concepts. This shift gave rise to a dual and seemingly contradictory set of meanings: on one hand, 'to boast or be conceited', and on the other, 'to pity, show sympathy, or act with dignified restraint'. These figurative usages have entirely overtaken the original literal definition in modern standard vocabulary.

Etymology Hide

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

她表现得很矜持。

Tā biǎoxiàn dé hěn jīnchí.

She behaves very reserved.

他不喜欢矜夸的人。

Tā bù xǐhuān jīnkuā de rén.

He does not like people who boast.

老板对员工很矜持。

Lǎobǎn duì yuángōng hěn jīnchí.

The boss is very reserved towards the employees.

她的矜持是出了名的。

Tā de jīnchí shì chūle míng de.

Her reserve is famous.

在公共场合，他总保持矜持。

Zài gōnggòng chǎnghé, tā zǒng bǎochí jīnchí.

In public places, he always maintains reserve.

矜持的态度有时会阻碍交流。

Jīnchí de tàidù yǒushí huì zǔ'ài jiāoliú.

A reserved attitude can sometimes hinder communication.

她矜怜那些需要帮助的人。

Tā jīnlián nàxiē xūyào bāngzhù de rén.

She pities those who need help.

尽管他内心热情，但表面的矜持让人难以察觉。

Jǐnguǎn tā nèixīn rèqíng, dàn biǎomiàn de jīnchí ràng rén nányǐ chájué.

Although he is passionate inside, his surface reserve makes it hard for people to notice.

Related Characters

Component: 今

Component: 矛

矜