兢

jīng

Definitions

jīng (adjective) cautious; apprehensive

Etymology

About

The character 兢 (jīng) expresses the meaning of cautiousness, fearfulness, and extreme care, often appearing in contexts requiring high vigilance and responsibility. Structurally, it is composed of two identical halves placed side by side, a duplication that serves to emphasize and amplify a sense of continuous, repetitive caution. Each half visually resembles a variant of 克 (kè), with components that suggest a person acting under a heavy burden or pressure, thereby necessitating a careful and measured approach. The character is most prominently used in classical idioms and formal expressions to describe individuals meticulously performing their duties, terrified of making a mistake, or showing profound reverence and anxiety about their responsibilities.

Etymology Hide

Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 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

他对工作兢兢业业。

tā duì gōng zuò jīng jīng yè yè.

He is diligent and conscientious in his work.

她兢兢业业地完成了任务。

tā jīng jīng yè yè de wán chéng le rèn wù.

She completed the task with diligence and care.

这位员工做事总是兢兢业业。

zhè wèi yuán gōng zuò shì zǒng shì jīng jīng yè yè.

This employee always works diligently.

没有兢兢业业的精神，很难成功。

méi yǒu jīng jīng yè yè de jīng shén, hěn nán chéng gōng.

Without a spirit of diligence, it is hard to succeed.

他兢兢业业工作，终于获得了提升。

tā jīng jīng yè yè gōng zuò, zhōng yú huò dé le tí shēng.

He worked diligently and finally received a promotion.

他战战兢兢地走上了演讲台。

tā zhàn zhàn jīng jīng de zǒu shàng le yǎn jiǎng tái.

He walked onto the speaker's platform with fear and trembling.

在竞争激烈的市场中，企业必须兢兢业业。

zài jìng zhēng jī liè de shì chǎng zhōng, qǐ yè bì xū jīng jīng yè yè.

In a highly competitive market, enterprises must operate with utmost diligence.

他那种兢兢业业、一丝不苟的作风值得我们学习。

tā nà zhǒng jīng jīng yè yè、yī sī bù gǒu de zuò fēng zhí dé wǒ men xué xí.

His diligent and meticulous style of work is worth learning from.

Related Characters

Component: 克

兢