be content to occupy; willingly stay in
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesverb
to be content to occupy (a lower position); to willingly remain in (a humble or secondary place)
Often used in set phrases like 甘居人下 (content to be subordinate) or 甘居中游 (content to be mediocre). Can imply either genuine humility or a lack of ambition, depending on context.
Tā他
cái才
huá华
chū出
zhòng众
，
què却
gān甘
jū居
rén人
xià下
，
cóng从
bù不
zhēng争
quán权
duó夺
lì利
。
He is exceptionally talented, yet content to be subordinate, never fighting for power or profit.
Zhè这
jiā家
gōng公
sī司
bù不
zhuī追
qiú求
zhuó卓
yuè越
，
fǎn反
ér而
gān甘
jū居
zhōng中
yóu游
。
This company does not pursue excellence; instead, it is content to remain mediocre.
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Lǎo老
dǎo导
yǎn演
gān甘
jū居
mù幕
hòu后
，
bǎ把
wǔ舞
tái台
ràng让
gěi给
le了
nián年
qīng轻
rén人
。
The veteran director was content to stay behind the scenes, yielding the stage to young people.
Suī虽
rán然
yǒu有
néng能
lì力
dāng当
yī一
bǎ把
shǒu手
，
tā他
què却
gān甘
jū居
èr二
xiàn线
，
zhuān专
xīn心
gǎo搞
yán研
jiū究
。
Although capable of being the top leader, he was content to stay in a secondary position, focusing on research.