谦让

謙讓
qiānràng
verb #40,415

Meanings

  1. 1 to modestly yield
  2. 2 to defer to others
  3. 3 to politely decline

Examples

HSK 6
Zhǔren qǐng tā zuò shàngzuò, tā qiānràng le yì fān cái zuòxia.
The host offered him the seat of honour, and only after politely declining a few times did he sit down.
HSK 7-9
Kǒng Róng xiǎoshíhou jiù dǒngde qiānràng.
Even as a little boy, Kong Rong knew to give way to others.

Tips

culture
Children learn it from the story 孔融让梨: four-year-old Kong Rong takes the smallest pear and leaves the bigger ones to his brothers. 谦让 comes from modesty; 礼让 is giving way out of courtesy, as drivers do for pedestrians.

Stroke Order

谦 qiān
让 ràng