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敬而远之 (jìng ér yuǎn zhī) — Chinese word meaning

HSK 7

敬而远之 (jìng ér yuǎn zhī) is a Chinese word: to respect but keep at a distance. This page shows its pinyin, translation, example sentences, character breakdown, decomposition, and HSK level.

Meaning of 敬而远之

成语 chéng yǔ idiom

to respect but keep at a distance

他对那些复杂的人际关系总是敬而远之。

tā duì nà xiē fù zá de rén jì guān xi zǒng shì jìng ér yuǎn zhī

He always maintains a respectful distance from those complex interpersonal relationships.

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Word breakdown

敬 jìng — to respect, to revere

Words with this character (13)
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而 ér — but, yet (conjunction connecting respect and distance)

Words with this character (29)
  • 1 而且 ér qiě — moreover HSK 3
    • 而 connecting particle (and, but)
    • 且 moreover, also (adds emphasis)
    Example

    她不仅会说中文，而且会说英文。

    tā bù jǐn huì shuō zhōng wén ér qiě huì shuō yīng wén

    She not only speaks Chinese, but also speaks English.

  • 2 然而 rán ér — however HSK 4
    • 然 so, thus (establishes a state or condition)
    • 而 but, yet (provides contrastive conjunction)
    Example

    他很努力，然而结果并不理想。

    tā hěn nǔ lì rán ér jié guǒ bìng bù lǐ xiǎng

    He worked very hard, however the result was not ideal.

  • 3 从而 cóng ér — thereby HSK 5
    • 从 following from, proceeding from
    • 而 and then, consequently
    Example

    公司改进了管理方法，从而提高了效率。

    gōng sī gǎi jìn le guǎn lǐ fāng fǎ cóng ér tí gāo le xiào lǜ

    The company improved its management methods, thereby increasing efficiency.

  • 4 反而 fǎn ér — on the contrary HSK 5
    • 反 opposite, contrary
    • 而 conjunction emphasizing contrast
    Example

    他不但没有生气，反而笑了。

    tā bù dàn méi yǒu shēng qì fǎn ér xiào le

    He not only didn't get angry, but instead laughed.

  • 5 因而 yīn ér — therefore HSK 5
    • 因 cause, reason
    • 而 connecting particle (links cause to effect)
    Example

    他生病了，因而没来上课。

    tā shēng bìng le yīn ér méi lái shàng kè

    He got sick, therefore he didn't come to class.

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远 yuǎn — far, distant (to keep at a distance)

Words with this character (19)
Show more (+14)
  • 6 长远 cháng yuǎn — long-term HSK 5
    • 长 long (in duration/time)
    • 远 far, distant (extending into the future)
    Example

    这个决定对公司的长远发展很重要。

    zhè ge jué dìng duì gōng sī de cháng yuǎn fā zhǎn hěn zhòng yào

    This decision is very important for the company's long-term development.

  • 7 远方 yuǎn fāng — distant place HSK 6
    • 远 far, distant
    • 方 place, direction
    Example

    远方传来歌声。

    yuǎn fāng chuán lái gē shēng

    Singing came from afar.

  • 8 远程 yuǎn chéng — remote HSK 6
    • 远 far, distant
    • 程 distance, course
    Example

    我们公司现在允许远程工作。

    wǒ men gōng sī xiàn zài yǔn xǔ yuǎn chéng gōng zuò

    Our company now allows remote work.

  • 9 遥远 yáo yuǎn — distant HSK 6
    • 遥 distant, far-reaching
    • 远 far, distant (reinforces distance)
    Example

    她住在一个遥远的国家。

    tā zhù zài yí ge yáo yuǎn de guó jiā

    She lives in a distant country.

  • 10 任重道远 rèn zhòng dào yuǎn — a heavy responsibility and a long way to go HSK 7
    • 任 responsibility, burden, duty
    • 重 heavy, weighty, serious
    • 道 road, path, way
    • 远 far, distant, long
    Example

    脱贫攻坚任重道远，但我们充满信心。

    tuō pín gōng jiān rèn zhòng dào yuǎn dàn wǒ men chōng mǎn xìn xīn

    The fight against poverty is a heavy responsibility and a long journey, but we are full of confidence.

  • 11 偏远 piān yuǎn — remote HSK 7
    • 偏 off to the side, away from the center
    • 远 far, distant
    Example

    他在偏远的山区工作。

    tā zài piān yuǎn de shān qū gōng zuò

    He works in a remote mountainous area.

  • 12 望远镜 wàng yuǎn jìng — telescope HSK 7
    • 望 to look, to gaze into the distance
    • 远 far, distant
    • 镜 lens, optical instrument
    Example

    他用望远镜观察星星。

    tā yòng wàng yuǎn jìng guān chá xīng xing

    He uses a telescope to observe the stars.

  • 13 源远流长 yuán yuǎn liú cháng — having a long history and deep roots HSK 7
    • 源 source, origin (refers to the ancient beginning)
    • 远 distant, far (emphasizes the ancient, remote nature of the origin)
    • 流 flow, stream (represents continuity and transmission through time)
    • 长 long (emphasizes the extended duration and continuity)
    Example

    中国的茶文化源远流长，可以追溯到几千年前。

    Zhōng guó de chá wén huà yuán yuǎn liú cháng kě yǐ zhuī sù dào jǐ qiān nián qián

    Chinese tea culture has a long history and deep roots, dating back thousands of years.

  • 14 疏远 shū yuǎn — to become estranged, to drift apart HSK 7
    • 疏 sparse, distant, to thin out
    • 远 far, distant
    Example

    自从搬家后，我和老朋友渐渐疏远了。

    zì cóng bān jiā hòu wǒ hé lǎo péng you jiàn jiàn shū yuǎn le

    Since moving, I've gradually drifted apart from my old friends.

  • 15 绕远儿 rào yuǎn r — to take a detour HSK 7
    • 绕 to go around, to circle
    • 远 far, distant
    • 儿 colloquial suffix (Beijing dialect retroflex ending)
    Example

    为了避开堵车，我们只好绕远儿走。

    wèi le bì kāi dǔ chē wǒ men zhǐ hǎo rào yuǎn r zǒu

    To avoid the traffic jam, we had to take a detour.

  • 16 绕远儿 rào yuǎnr — take a detour / go the long way HSK 7
    • 绕 to go around, to make a circuit
    • 远 far, distant (indicating increased distance)
    • 儿 diminutive suffix (colloquial, adds dialectal flavor)
    Example

    从这里走会绕远儿，我们还是走那条近路吧。

    cóng zhè lǐ zǒu huì rào yuǎnr wǒ men hái shi zǒu nà tiáo jìn lù ba

    Going from here will be a detour; let's take that shortcut instead.

  • 17 边远 biān yuǎn — remote HSK 7
    • 边 border, edge, frontier
    • 远 far, distant
    Example

    他在边远地区工作了十年。

    tā zài biān yuǎn dì qū gōng zuò le shí nián

    He worked in a remote area for ten years.

  • 18 远见 yuǎn jiàn — foresight HSK 7
    • 远 far (into the future)
    • 见 see, perceive
    Example

    他很有远见，提前做好了准备。

    tā hěn yǒu yuǎn jiàn tí qián zuò hǎo le zhǔn bèi

    He has great foresight and prepared in advance.

  • 19 远近闻名 yuǎn jìn wén míng — famous far and wide HSK 7
    • 远 far, distant
    • 近 near, close
    • 闻 heard of, known
    • 名 fame, reputation
    Example

    这家餐厅的烤鸭远近闻名。

    zhè jiā cān tīng de kǎo yā yuǎn jìn wén míng

    This restaurant's roast duck is famous far and wide.

之 zhī — it, them (classical pronoun referring to the object being kept at distance)

Words with this character (24)
  • 1 之中 zhī zhōng — among, within HSK 4
    • 之 classical possessive/attributive particle
    • 中 middle, among, within
    Example

    在众多选择之中，这是最好的。

    zài zhòng duō xuǎn zé zhī zhōng zhè shì zuì hǎo de

    Among many choices, this is the best.

  • 2 之前 zhī qián — before HSK 4
    • 之 connecting particle linking time reference to 'before'
    • 前 before, prior, anteriority in time
    Example

    三年之前我不会说中文。

    sān nián zhī qián wǒ bù huì shuō zhōng wén

    Three years ago, I couldn't speak Chinese.

  • 3 之后 zhī hòu — after HSK 4
    • 之 classical linking particle connecting to the temporal concept
    • 后 after, later (provides the temporal meaning)
    Example

    毕业之后他去了北京工作。

    bì yè zhī hòu tā qù le běi jīng gōng zuò

    After graduation, he went to Beijing to work.

  • 4 之间 zhī jiān — between HSK 4
    • 之 classical particle connecting preceding element with '间'
    • 间 space, gap, interval between things
    Example

    我们之间没有秘密。

    wǒ men zhī jiān méi yǒu mì mì

    There are no secrets between us.

  • 5 总之 zǒng zhī — in short HSK 5
    • 总 overall, general (indicating summation)
    • 之 classical particle (grammatical complement)
    Example

    总之，我们要努力学习。

    zǒng zhī wǒ men yào nǔ lì xué xí

    In short, we need to study hard.

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  • 6 之所以 zhī suǒ yǐ — the reason why HSK 6
    • 之 grammatical particle linking the reason
    • 所 that which, indicating the object or thing
    • 以 by means of, because of (causal meaning)
    Example

    我之所以学中文，是因为我喜欢中国文化。

    wǒ zhī suǒ yǐ xué zhōng wén shì yīn wèi wǒ xǐ huān zhōng guó wén huà

    The reason why I study Chinese is because I like Chinese culture.

  • 7 一技之长 yī jì zhī cháng — a special skill; a particular forte HSK 7
    • 一 one; a specific
    • 技 skill; craft
    • 之 possessive particle (of)
    • 长 strong point; forte
    Example

    他虽然学历不高，但有一技之长，生活得很好。

    tā suī rán xué lì bù gāo dàn yǒu yī jì zhī cháng shēng huó de hěn hǎo

    Although he doesn't have high education, he has a special skill and lives well.

  • 8 不了了之 bù liǎo liǎo zhī — to leave something unresolved HSK 7
    • 不 not; negates the action of concluding
    • 了 to finish, to settle; indicates completion
    • 了 to finish; reinforces the sense of completion
    • 之 it, this (classical particle); refers to the matter
    Example

    这件事不能不了了之，我们必须找到解决办法。

    zhè jiàn shì bù néng bù liǎo liǎo zhī wǒ men bì xū zhǎo dào jiě jué bàn fǎ

    This matter cannot be left unresolved; we must find a solution.

  • 9 不正之风 bù zhèng zhī fēng — unhealthy trends HSK 7
    • 不 not, negation marker
    • 正 proper, correct, righteous
    • 之 of (classical possessive marker)
    • 风 wind, trend, custom, atmosphere
    Example

    我们必须坚决抵制社会上的不正之风。

    wǒ men bì xū jiān jué dǐ zhì shè huì shàng de bù zhèng zhī fēng

    We must firmly resist unhealthy trends in society.

  • 10 之际 zhī jì — at the time of HSK 7
    • 之 structural particle linking the preceding element
    • 际 time, occasion, juncture
    Example

    新年之际，祝你万事如意。

    xīn nián zhī jì zhù nǐ wàn shì rú yì

    On the occasion of the New Year, I wish you all the best.

  • 11 井底之蛙 jǐng dǐ zhī wā — A frog at the bottom of a well (metaphor for someone with a narrow perspective) HSK 7
    • 井 well (a confined, narrow space symbolizing limitation)
    • 底 bottom (emphasizes the lowest position, furthest from the wider world)
    • 之 of/at (classical possessive/locative particle connecting the location to the subject)
    • 蛙 frog (the subject with limited perspective due to confined environment)
    Example

    不要做井底之蛙，要开阔眼界。

    bú yào zuò jǐng dǐ zhī wā yào kāi kuò yǎn jiè

    Don't be a frog at the bottom of a well, broaden your horizons.

  • 12 加之 jiā zhī — moreover HSK 7
    • 加 add, contributes the sense of addition
    • 之 classical particle, adds formality and connects clauses
    Example

    天气很冷，加之下雨，我们决定不出去了。

    tiān qì hěn lěng jiā zhī xià yǔ wǒ men jué dìng bù chū qù le

    The weather is very cold, and moreover it's raining, so we decided not to go out.

  • 13 反之 fǎn zhī — conversely HSK 7
    • 反 opposite, reverse
    • 之 classical particle referring to the previous situation
    Example

    他喜欢夏天，反之，我更喜欢冬天。

    tā xǐ huan xià tiān fǎn zhī wǒ gèng xǐ huan dōng tiān

    He likes summer; conversely, I prefer winter.

  • 14 取而代之 qǔ ér dài zhī — replace, take its place HSK 7
    • 取 to take, to seize
    • 而 and then, and (connects sequential actions)
    • 代 to replace, to substitute
    • 之 it, that (classical pronoun for what is replaced)
    Example

    手工劳动逐渐被机器取而代之。

    shǒu gōng láo dòng zhú jiàn bèi jī qì qǔ ér dài zhī

    Manual labor is gradually being replaced by machines.

  • 15 可乘之机 kě chéng zhī jī — opportunity to exploit HSK 7
    • 可 can, possible (indicates exploitability)
    • 乘 to take advantage of, to exploit
    • 之 grammatical particle (possessive/attributive marker)
    • 机 opportunity, chance
    Example

    公司管理松懈，给了竞争对手可乘之机。

    gōng sī guǎn lǐ sōng xiè gěi le jìng zhēng duì shǒu kě chéng zhī jī

    The company's lax management gave competitors an opportunity to exploit.

  • 16 后顾之忧 hòu gù zhī yōu — worries about the future; future troubles HSK 7
    • 后 rear; behind; what's left behind
    • 顾 look back at; be concerned about
    • 之 possessive particle (classical)
    • 忧 worry; anxiety; concern
    Example

    有了稳定的工作,他就没有后顾之忧了。

    yǒu le wěn dìng de gōng zuò tā jiù méi yǒu hòu gù zhī yōu le

    With a stable job, he no longer has worries about the future.

  • 17 天伦之乐 tiān lún zhī lè — family happiness HSK 7
    • 天 heaven/natural; indicates natural or heavenly bonds
    • 伦 relationships/ethics; refers to family relationships
    • 之 possessive particle; means 'of'
    • 乐 joy/happiness; the pleasure derived from something
    Example

    周末全家人聚在一起，享受天伦之乐。

    zhōu mò quán jiā rén jù zài yì qǐ xiǎng shòu tiān lún zhī lè

    On the weekend, the whole family gathers together and enjoys family happiness.

  • 18 当之无愧 dāng zhī wú kuì — fully deserve; well-deserved HSK 7
    • 当 to bear, to face (something deserved)
    • 之 it (referring to the honor or recognition)
    • 无 without, not have
    • 愧 shame, guilt, ashamed
    Example

    她获得这个奖项当之无愧。

    tā huò dé zhè ge jiǎng xiàng dāng zhī wú kuì

    She fully deserves this award.

  • 19 当务之急 dāng wù zhī jí — top priority HSK 7
    • 当 current, present
    • 务 affair, task, matter
    • 之 possessive particle (classical)
    • 急 urgent, pressing
    Example

    提高教育质量是国家的当务之急。

    tí gāo jiào yù zhì liàng shì guó jiā de dāng wù zhī jí

    Improving education quality is the nation's top priority.

  • 20 总而言之 zǒng ér yán zhī — in summary HSK 7
    • 总 overall, general (provides the summarizing aspect)
    • 而 and (grammatical connector linking 'overall' to 'speaking')
    • 言 to speak, words (indicates verbal expression)
    • 之 it (classical particle completing the phrase)
    Example

    总而言之，学习中文需要耐心和努力。

    zǒng ér yán zhī xué xí zhōng wén xū yào nài xīn hé nǔ lì

    In summary, learning Chinese requires patience and effort.

  • 21 持之以恒 chí zhī yǐ héng — to persevere; to persist with perseverance HSK 7
    • 持 to hold; to maintain
    • 之 it; this (classical particle)
    • 以 with; by means of
    • 恒 constancy; permanence; perseverance
    Example

    只要持之以恒，你一定能成功。

    zhǐ yào chí zhī yǐ héng nǐ yí dìng néng chéng gōng

    As long as you persevere, you will definitely succeed.

  • 22 无价之宝 wú jià zhī bǎo — priceless treasure HSK 7
    • 无 without, no
    • 价 price, value
    • 之 possessive/attributive particle
    • 宝 treasure
    Example

    健康是人生中的无价之宝。

    jiàn kāng shì rén shēng zhōng de wú jià zhī bǎo

    Health is a priceless treasure in life.

  • 23 来之不易 lái zhī bù yì — hard-won; not easily obtained HSK 7
    • 来 to come; represents the arrival or obtaining of something
    • 之 classical possessive particle; connects the components
    • 不 not; negates the following character
    • 易 easy; refers to ease or simplicity
    Example

    这个机会来之不易，你一定要把握住。

    zhè ge jī huì lái zhī bù yì nǐ yí dìng yào bǎ wò zhù

    This opportunity is hard-won, you must seize it.

  • 24 重中之重 zhòng zhōng zhī zhòng — top priority HSK 7
    • 重 important, weighty (first occurrence, indicating something of importance)
    • 中 among, within (indicating selection from a group)
    • 之 of (classical possessive particle connecting the concepts)
    • 重 important, weighty (second occurrence, completing the emphatic structure)
    Example

    教育是国家发展的重中之重。

    jiào yù shì guó jiā fā zhǎn de zhòng zhōng zhī zhòng

    Education is the top priority for national development.

Structure & writing
1 敬 jìng — to respect, to treat with courtesy
敬 is a component in 2 characters
HSK 4
警 jǐng to alert and be on guard
HSK 7
擎 qíng to lift up, raise

consists of

1.1 苟 gǒu — for the time being; temporarily
苟 is a component in 1 characters
HSK 5
敬 jìng to respect, to treat with courtesy
1.2 攵 pū — light strike/tap radical
攵 is a component in 28 characters
HSK 2
教 jiào to teach; to educate
HSK 3
收 shōu bring in; gather together 放 fàng to release; to set free 故 gù reason; cause 数 shù number; quantity
HSK 4
微 wēi tiny; slight 改 gǎi to revise; to modify 效 xiào effect, function, result 败 bài to lose (a war or competition, opposite of 胜)
HSK 5
政 zhèng politics; affairs of state 敌 dí hostile; antagonistic 敏 mǐn intelligent, quick-witted, agile 救 jiù to help someone out of difficulty, danger, or disaster 敬 jìng to respect, to treat with courtesy
Show more HSK 5 characters (+2)
玫 méi (lit.) a type of beautiful stone or jade 致 zhì to give; to express (courtesy, goodwill, etc.) to someone
HSK 6
撤 chè to remove; to cancel 攻 gōng to attack, assault; opposite of 'defend'
HSK 7
徽 huī emblem; badge; insignia 敛 liǎn (lit.) to draw in; to hold back 敞 chǎng (of buildings, courtyards, etc.) spacious and open; unobstructed 敦 dūn to urge; to encourage 敷 fū to apply (ointment, powder, etc.)
Show more HSK 7 characters (+5)
枚 méi a counter for small objects (similar to 个), one by one 澈 chè clear and transparent (of water) 牧 mù to herd (livestock or poultry) outdoors to graze or roam 肇 zhào (class.) to begin; to start 辙 zhé rut; track left by a wheel

Stroke order

2 而 ér — conjunction linking verbs, adjectives, or clauses: ① connecting successive elements ② connecting complementary affirmative and negative elements ③ connecting contrasting elements (adversative) ④ connecting causally related elements
而 is a component in 3 characters
HSK 3
需 xū to need, to require
HSK 4
耐 nài to endure; to withstand; to bear
HSK 7
耍 shuǎ to play; to have fun

而 is an atomic character — it does not decompose further.

Stroke order

3 远 yuǎn — far; distant (in space or time, opposite of 近)

远 is not used as a component in any other character.

consists of

3.1 辶 chuò — walk/movement radical, indicating motion or walking
辶 is a component in 68 characters
HSK 1
边 biān border between countries or regions 还 huán to return to the original place or state 这 zhè this (person or thing nearby, as opposed to 那) 道 dào road; path; passage
HSK 2
过 guò to move from one place or party to another 运 yùn to rotate; to move in sequence 近 jìn near, close (in space or time; opposite of 远) 进 jìn to move forward (opposite of 退) 远 yuǎn far; distant (in space or time, opposite of 近)
Show more HSK 2 characters (+1)
送 sòng to deliver or bring something to someone
HSK 3
迎 yíng to welcome; to greet 迟 chí slow, sluggish 适 shì (lit.) to go; to travel to 选 xuǎn to choose; to select; to pick 遇 yù to meet, encounter, come across
Show more HSK 3 characters (+1)
遍 biàn universal, widespread
HSK 4
达 dá to go through; to reach 连 lián to connect, to link 迷 mí unable to distinguish; lost the ability to discern or judge 递 dì to deliver; to pass on 通 tōng unobstructed; able to pass through
Show more HSK 4 characters (+4)
逛 guàng to stroll; to wander; to roam around 速 sù fast; swift; rapid 邀 yāo to invite 随 suí to follow
HSK 5
迅 xùn extremely fast; swift 返 fǎn to return, to go back 违 wéi to disobey; to violate 述 shù to narrate; to state; to recount 迹 jì trace; mark left behind
Show more HSK 5 characters (+9)
追 zhuī to chase; to catch up with 退 tuì to move backward (opposite of 进) 逐 zhú to chase, to pursue 途 tú road; path 造 zào to make; to manufacture 逻 luó to patrol; to make rounds 遗 yí to omit or lose due to carelessness 遵 zūn (lit.) to follow; along 避 bì to avoid; to evade
HSK 6
迈 mài to stride; to step over 迫 pò to compel; to force 逃 táo to flee; to escape from an unfavorable situation 透 tòu (of liquid, light, etc.) to seep through; to penetrate 逗 dòu to tease; to provoke
Show more HSK 6 characters (+3)
逼 bī to coerce; to threaten 遥 yáo far; distant 遭 zāo to encounter (misfortune or adversity)
HSK 7
巡 xún to patrol; to make rounds of inspection 辽 liáo distant; far 迁 qiān to move, relocate (an office, residence, etc.) 迄 qì to reach; up to 迪 dí (lit.) to enlighten; to guide
Show more HSK 7 characters (+16)
迭 dié to alternate; to take turns 迸 bèng to spurt out; to splash outward 逆 nì to go in the opposite direction (opposite of 顺) 逊 xùn to abdicate (the throne) 逝 shì to pass; to vanish (esp. of time or flowing water) 逞 chěng show off (one's talent, power, etc.); boast 逢 féng to encounter; to meet 逮 dài (lit.) to reach; to arrive at 逸 yì comfortable and at ease; leisurely 逾 yú to exceed; to surpass 遏 è to stop; to suppress; to restrain 遛 liù to stroll, walk slowly and leisurely 遣 qiǎn to dispatch; to send 遮 zhē to block from view; to obscure 邃 suì deep and distant (of time or space) 隧 suì tunnel; underground or mountain passage
3.2 元 yuán — the Yuan dynasty (1271–1368), founded by Kublai Khan
元 is a component in 6 characters
HSK 1
玩 wán to play (a game)
HSK 2
完 wán complete; whole; intact 远 yuǎn far; distant (in space or time, opposite of 近)
HSK 3
园 yuán garden (for growing vegetables, flowers, or fruit)
HSK 5
冠 guàn (lit.) to put on a hat (in ancient times, a capping ceremony at age 20 marked adulthood)
HSK 6
顽 wán stupid; ignorant

Stroke order

4 之 zhī — to go (to a place)
之 is a component in 2 characters
HSK 5
乏 fá lacking; without
HSK 7
芝 zhī lingzhi mushroom (Ganoderma lucidum), a fungus growing on dead wood with a reddish-brown glossy cap, used medicinally; regarded as an auspicious plant in ancient times

之 is an atomic character — it does not decompose further.

Stroke order