诚惶诚恐

誠惶誠恐

chénghuángchéngkǒng

idiom #31,433

Meanings

Miànduì rúcǐ róngyù, tā chénghuáng chéngkǒng.

Faced with such an honor, he felt overwhelmed with nervous humility.

Xīn yuángōng chénghuáng chéngkǒng de xiàng zǒngjīnglǐ huìbào.

The new employee reported to the CEO with anxious deference.

history

From 汉·杜诗《乞退郡疏》: '令功臣怀愠，诚惶诚恐.' 诚 here means 'truly'; 惶 and 恐 both mean 'fear', giving a doubled, heightened sense of awe.

诚 chéng

惶 huáng

恐 kǒng