谦 (qiān) means modest. Simplified form has 12 strokes under radical 讠.
Very well regarded in educated Chinese families (e.g., 谦益, 怀谦, 子谦). Signals a confident, cultured gentleman who never boasts.
Works best in classical phrases such as 谦逊 (modest) or 谦谦君子 (a modest person of noble character).
Origin & Visual Logic: Speech radical (讠) combined with holding together (兼): measured, respectful speech that leaves room for others.
| Traditional / Simplified | Pinyin | CC-CEDICT Definitions |
|---|---|---|
| 謙 / 谦 | qiān | modest |
Lexical entries derived from CC-CEDICT (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Make Me a Hanzi (APL / LGPL-3.0).
| Chinese Word | Pinyin | English Meaning | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|
| 谦虚 | qiānxū | modest and humble | |
| 谦逊 | qiānxùn | unassuming and courteous | |
| 谦和 | qiānhé | modest and amiable |
See how native speakers pair 谦 (qiān) into modern Chinese names:
"谦" has 12 strokes in Simplified Chinese (Traditional form: 謙). Its primary dictionary radical is 讠, and you can animate or practice writing every stroke in order using the interactive grid on this page.
Rating: Highly Recommended (Masculine-leaning). Very well regarded in educated Chinese families (e.g., 谦益, 怀谦, 子谦). Signals a confident, cultured gentleman who never boasts.
Tattoo rating: Better in a Phrase. Works best in classical phrases such as 谦逊 (modest) or 谦谦君子 (a modest person of noble character).
