钦

欽

qīn

欠 + 钅

Definitions

qīn (verb) to respect; to admire; to venerate

qīn (adjective) imperial; by imperial decree

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 钅 represents the meaning and 欠 represents the sound. Simplified form of 欽.

Semantic: 钅 Phonetic: 欠

About

钦 is a phonosemantic compound: the metal radical 钅 (simplified from 金) supplies the meaning, while 欠 indicates the sound. Its traditional form 欽 preserves the full 金 component. The character means "respect" or "admiration", and this lofty sense led to extensive use in imperial vocabulary for matters pertaining to the emperor, such as decrees and envoys, reinforcing its aura of supreme authority.

Etymology Hide

Bronze Late Warring States (~250 BC)

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我非常钦佩他。

Wǒ fēicháng qīnpèi tā.

I admire him very much.

钦差大臣到了。

Qīnchāi dàchén dào le.

The imperial envoy has arrived.

这是钦定的规则。

Zhè shì qīndìng de guīzé.

These are the imperially appointed rules.

他钦慕她的才华。

Tā qīnmù tā de cáihuá.

He admires her talent.

钦此常用于圣旨结尾。

Qīn cǐ cháng yòng yú shèngzhǐ jiéwěi.

"Qin ci" is often used at the end of imperial edicts.

我们钦仰英雄的事迹。

Wǒmen qīnyǎng yīngxióng de shìjì.

We admire the deeds of heroes.

钦察汗国是历史政权。

Qīnchá hànguó shì lìshǐ zhèngquán.

The Golden Horde was a historical regime.

钦定宪法大纲已被废除。

Qīndìng xiànfǎ dàgāng yǐ bèi fèichú.

The Imperial Constitution Outline has been abolished.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 欠

Component: 钅

钦