仁慈

réncí
adjective HSK 7-9 #4,002

Meanings

  1. 1 benevolent; kind; merciful

Characters

Both characters represent kindness - 仁 is the core Confucian virtue of humaneness, while 慈 suggests tender compassion, often associated with mothers (慈母 = loving mother).

Examples

HSK 3
Tā shì yí ge réncí de lǎorén.
She is a benevolent old woman.
HSK 6
Lǐngdǎozhě yīnggāi réncí dàn gōngzhèng.
Leaders should be merciful but just.

Tips

history
仁 (rén) is THE central concept in Confucianism - often translated as 'benevolence' or 'humaneness.' The character is composed of 人 (person) + 二 (two), suggesting that true humaneness arises in relationships between people. Confucius considered 仁 the highest moral ideal.

Stroke Order

仁 rén
慈 cí