honorific expression; polite term
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 5 examplesnoun
honorific expression; respectful term
formalRefers to words or phrases used to show respect to the listener or the person being talked about. A key concept in Chinese polite speech.
Yǔ与
rén人
jiāo交
tán谈
shí时
，
shǐ使
yòng用
‘‘
qǐng请
wèn问
’
、
‘‘
nín您
’
zhè这
yàng样
de的
jìng敬
cí辞
shì是
hěn很
lǐ礼
mào貌
de的
。
Using honorifics like 'may I ask' and 'you (polite)' when talking to others is very polite.
Zài在
zhèng正
shì式
xìn信
hán函
de的
kāi开
tóu头
，
wǒ我
men们
cháng常
yòng用
‘‘
zūn尊
jìng敬
de的
’
zuò作
wéi为
jìng敬
cí辞
。
At the beginning of a formal letter, we often use 'Respected' as an honorific.
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Tā他
bǎ把
‘‘
lìng令
zūn尊
’
、
‘‘
guì贵
gōng公
sī司
’
děng等
jìng敬
cí辞
dōu都
yòng用
dé得
qià恰
dào到
hǎo好
chù处
。
He used honorifics like 'your esteemed father' and 'your honorable company' perfectly appropriately.
Xué学
sheng生
gěi给
lǎo老
shī师
xiě写
xìn信
，
yī一
dìng定
yào要
yòng用
jìng敬
cí辞
。
When a student writes to a teacher, they must use honorifics.
Bù不
dǒng懂
dé得
zài在
shén什
me么
chǎng场
hé合
shǐ使
yòng用
jìng敬
cí辞
，
yǒu有
shí时
huì会
xiǎn显
dé得
hěn很
shī失
lǐ礼
。
Not knowing when to use honorifics can sometimes seem very rude.