忠恕

zhōngshù

noun

Meanings

1 loyalty and consideration for others
2 (Confucianism) doing one's best for others (忠) and treating others as one would oneself (恕)
3 magnanimity

Characters

loyal / faithful

to forgive / be considerate

Examples

HSK 7-9

忠恕是儒家伦理的核心。

Zhōngshù shì Rújiā lúnlǐ de héxīn.

Loyalty and reciprocity are at the heart of Confucian ethics.

HSK 7-9

他为人忠恕，朋友都信任他。

Tā wéirén zhōngshù, péngyǒu dōu xìnrèn tā.

He is conscientious and considerate, and his friends all trust him.

Tips

history

From the Analects (《论语·里仁》): when a disciple asked what tied Confucius's teaching together, Zengzi (曾子) answered 'the Master's Way is just 忠恕, nothing more' (夫子之道，忠恕而已矣). 恕 was famously glossed by Confucius as 己所不欲，勿施于人 - the Golden Rule in negative form.

Stroke Order

忠 zhōng

恕 shù