jūn
noun #4,056

Meanings

  1. 1 ruler
  2. 2 monarch
  3. 3 gentleman
  4. 4 you (respectful, literary)

Examples

Jūnzǐ yì yán, sì mǎ nán zhuī.
A gentleman's word is his bond. (lit. hard for four horses to chase)
Qǐng jūn rù wèng.
Please step into the trap. (idiom: taste your own medicine)

Tips

history
originally meant 'ruler' in ancient China. Over time it evolved to be a respectful form of address, similar to 'you' or 'sir' in classical Chinese poetry and prose.
usage
In modern Chinese, mostly appears in set phrases (君子), classical quotes, and formal/literary writing. In Japanese (kun), it is still used as a common honorific suffix.

Stroke Order

jūn