humble self-reference; modest appellation
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
2 senses · 7 examplesverb
to refer to oneself humbly; to speak of oneself modestly
formalTypically used by educated speakers or those of high status referring to themselves in a modest way.
Zhāng张
lǎo老
cháng常
cháng常
qiān谦
chēng称
zì自
jǐ己
wéi为
xiǎo小
xué学
shēng生
。
Old Zhang often modestly refers to himself as a primary school student.
Tā他
suī虽
shì是
dà大
zhuān专
jiā家
，
què却
zǒng总
qiān谦
chēng称
zì自
jǐ己
hái还
zài在
xué学
xí习
。
Although he is a great expert, he always humbly says he is still learning.
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Zhè这
wèi位
jiào教
shòu授
qiān谦
chēng称
zì自
jǐ己
zhǐ只
shì是
gè个
jiāo教
shū书
jiàng匠
。
This professor modestly calls himself just a craftsman who teaches.
noun
humble term of address; self-deprecatory appellation
formalIncludes traditional humble terms like 敝人, 舍下, 在下, 寒舍, etc., used to show modesty.
“
Bì敝
rén人
”
shì是
yī一
gè个
cháng常
yòng用
de的
qiān谦
chēng称
。
"Your humble servant" is a commonly used humble term of self-address.
Gǔ古
rén人
cháng常
yòng用
“
zài在
xià下
”
zuò作
wéi为
qiān谦
chēng称
。
Ancient people often used "I" (literally: below) as a humble self-appellation.
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Zhè这
xiē些
qiān谦
chēng称
xiàn现
zài在
yǐ已
jīng经
hěn很
shǎo少
shǐ使
yòng用
le了
。
These humble appellations are rarely used nowadays.
“
Shè舍
xià下
”
shì是
qiān谦
chēng称
zì自
jǐ己
de的
jiā家
。
"My humble abode" is a modest way to refer to one's home.