谦 qiān — modest, humble · English

谦

qiān

modest, humble

At a glance · 谦

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Evolution of the glyph

Five stages, from a sketch of the real object to regular script — tap a stage, drag the timeline, or play the animation.

Object sketchBefore writing · drawing what was seen
Oracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCE
Seal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCE
Clerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CE
Regular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE

Object sketchBefore writing · drawing what was seenOracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCESeal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCEClerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CERegular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE

⚠ Some ancient forms are not attested：oracle bone form、seal script form。No excavated oracle bone / seal artifact is attested for this character yet; we leave it blank rather than fabricate.

小篆从言兼声，形声字，本指言语谦恭。隶楷作「謙」，简化作「谦」。

What the sketch shows

Origins & notes

「谦」本指恭敬退让，引申为谦虚、谦逊。

Structure

形声字，言为意符，兼为声符。

At a glance

Pinyinqiān

Radical讠

Strokes12

UnicodeU+8C26

Character type形声

Theme德行

Six languages, one character

Each page offers hreflang versions; switching language keeps the glyphs and meanings aligned.

English modest, humble Modest, humble, deferential.

Français modeste, humble Modeste, humble, déférent.

Español modesto, humilde Modesto, humilde, deferente.

العربية متواضع، خاشع متواضع أو خاشع.

Русский скромный, почтительный Скромный, покорный, учтивый.

Common words

谦虚qiān xūmodest
谦qiānhumble

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