逊

遜

xùn

孙 + 辶

Definitions

xùn (adjective) modest; yielding; unpretentious

xùn (adjective) inferior to

xùn (verb) to abdicate

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 辶 represents the meaning and 孙 represents the sound. Simplified form of 遜.

Semantic: 辶 Phonetic: 孙

About

逊 is a phonosemantic compound, simplified from 遜. It retains the walking radical 辶 (chuò), indicating motion or a path, while the phonetic component is the simplified 孙 (sūn), replacing the traditional 孫. The original meaning was to withdraw, yield, or step back to make way. This physical yielding extended to the abstract qualities of humility and modesty, and the character also describes something inferior or lacking compared to another.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

他是个谦逊的人。

Tā shì gè qiānxùn de rén.

He is a modest person.

她的表演毫不逊色。

Tā de biǎoyǎn háo bù xùnsè.

Her performance is not inferior at all.

这款产品逊于竞争对手。

Zhè kuǎn chǎnpǐn xùn yú jìngzhēng duìshǒu.

This product is inferior to competitors.

他的态度总是很谦逊。

Tā de tàidù zǒng shì hěn qiānxùn.

His attitude is always very modest.

在才华上，他略逊一筹。

Zài cáihuá shàng, tā lüè xùn yī chóu.

In terms of talent, he is slightly inferior.

新版本的功能并不逊色于旧版本。

Xīn bǎnběn de gōngnéng bìng bù xùnsè yú jiù bǎnběn.

The functions of the new version are not inferior to the old version.

尽管他很有成就，但为人十分谦逊，从不炫耀。

Jǐnguǎn tā hěn yǒu chéngjiù, dàn wéirén shífēn qiānxùn, cóng bù xuànyào.

Although he has great achievements, he is very modest and never shows off.

在质量方面，这种材料显然逊于另一种，但价格更有优势。

Zài zhìliàng fāngmiàn, zhè zhǒng cáiliào xiǎnrán xùn yú lìng yī zhǒng, dàn jiàgè gèng yǒu yōushì.

In terms of quality, this material is obviously inferior to another kind, but the price is more advantageous.

Related Characters

Component: 孙

Component: 辶

逊