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毕恭毕敬

畢恭畢敬
bìgōngbìjìng
idiom #37,236

Meanings

  1. 1 reverent and respectful
  2. 2 extremely deferential
  3. 3 thoroughly polite and respectful

Examples

他对老师毕恭毕敬，从不顶嘴。
Tā duì lǎoshī bìgōngbìjìng, cóng bù dǐngzuǐ.
He is extremely deferential to his teacher and never talks back.
下属在领导面前总是毕恭毕敬的。
Xiàshǔ zài lǐngdǎo miànqián zǒngshì bìgōngbìjìng de.
Subordinates are always thoroughly respectful in front of their boss.

Tips

history
Echoes 《诗经·小雅·小弁》: 维桑与梓，必恭敬止 ('Even the mulberry and catalpa trees of one's home must be treated with respect'). The original 必恭敬 ('must be respectful') was later reshaped into the AABB-style 毕恭毕敬 by adding 毕 ('completely') for emphasis on both halves. The four-character form became fixed in vernacular fiction by the late Qing.
usage
Used adverbially or predicatively: 毕恭毕敬地说 (to say something with utmost respect), 态度毕恭毕敬 (an extremely deferential attitude). Often carries a slightly ironic edge in modern writing — describing someone whose respect is excessive or performative, not just sincere.

Stroke Order

毕 bì
恭 gōng
敬 jìng