xián

贤

Character · Adjective · Noun · HonorificTraditional賢

virtuous; talented; respectful term

Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma

Meanings

4 senses · 20 examples
1.

adjective

virtuous; talented; wise

literary

Describes people with good moral character and abilities.

Zhè这
wèi位
lǐng领
dǎo导
fēi非
cháng常
xián贤
míng明
 ,
shēn深
shòu受
rén人
mín民
ài爱
dài戴
 。

This leader is very wise and deeply loved by the people.

Tā他
shì是
yī一
wèi位
xián贤
dá达
de的
xué学
zhě者
 ,
zài在
xué学
shù术
jiè界
hěn很
yǒu有
míng名
wàng望
 。

He is a virtuous and accomplished scholar with great reputation in academic circles.

Show 3 more examples
Zì自
gǔ古
yǐ以
lái来
 ,
xián贤
liáng良
de的
jūn君
zhǔ主
dōu都
huì会
zhòng重
shì视
rén人
cái才
 。

Since ancient times, virtuous monarchs have valued talented people.

Tā她
yǐ以
xián贤
shū淑
de的
pǐn品
dé德
yíng赢
dé得
le了
dà大
jiā家
de的
zūn尊
zhòng重
 。

She won everyone's respect with her virtuous and gentle character.

Zhè这
wèi位
lǎo老
shī师
bù不
jǐn仅
xué学
shí识
yuān渊
bó博
 ,
ér而
qiě且
pǐn品
dé德
xián贤
zhèng正
 。

This teacher is not only knowledgeable but also has virtuous character.

2.

noun

virtuous person; talented person

literary

Refers to people who are both virtuous and talented.

Kǒng孔
zǐ子
bèi被
hòu后
rén人
zūn尊
wéi为
shèng圣
xián贤
 。

Confucius is respected by later generations as a sage.

Wǒ我
men们
yīng应
gāi该
xuǎn选
xián贤
jǔ举
néng能
 ,
ràng让
yǒu有
néng能
lì力
de的
rén人
dān担
rèn任
zhòng重
yào要
zhí职
wù务
 。

We should select virtuous and capable people to hold important positions.

Show 3 more examples
Rèn任
rén人
wéi唯
xián贤
shì是
qǐ企
yè业
fā发
zhǎn展
de的
zhòng重
yào要
yuán原
zé则
 。

Appointing people based on their virtue and ability is an important principle for enterprise development.

Zhè这
wèi位
lǎo老
xiān先
sheng生
shì是
wǒ我
men们
shè社
qū区
de的
xián贤
dá达
rén人
shì士
 。

This old gentleman is a virtuous and respected person in our community.

Gǔ古
dài代
dì帝
wáng王
dōu都
xī希
wàng望
dé得
dào到
xián贤
chén臣
de的
fǔ辅
zuǒ佐
 。

Ancient emperors all hoped to have the assistance of virtuous ministers.

3.

honorific

honorific term for peers or juniors

formal

Used as a respectful prefix when addressing peers or juniors to show politeness.

Xián贤
dì弟
zuì最
jìn近
gōng工
zuò作
shùn顺
lì利
ma吗
 ?

Is your work going well recently, my dear brother?

Xián贤
zhí侄
zhēn真
shì是
yuè越
lái来
yuè越
dǒng懂
shì事
le了
 。

My dear nephew is becoming more sensible every day.

Show 3 more examples
Xián贤
kūn昆
zhòng仲
dōu都
shì是
yǒu有
wéi为
qīng青
nián年
 。

Both of you brothers are promising young men.

Xián贤
mèi妹
de的
huà画
zuò作
zhēn真
shì是
yuè越
lái来
yuè越
chū出
sè色
le了
 。

My dear sister's paintings are getting more and more excellent.

Xián贤
xù婿
bù不
bì必
rú如
cǐ此
kè客
qì气
 。

My dear son-in-law, you don't have to be so polite.

4.

noun

surname

Used as a family name.

Wǒ我
de的
péng朋
yǒu友
xìng姓
Xián贤
 。

My friend's surname is Xian.

Xián贤
xiān先
sheng生
shì是
wǒ我
men们
gōng公
sī司
de的
xīn新
tóng同
shì事
 。

Mr. Xian is a new colleague in our company.

Show 3 more examples
Xián贤
zhè这
ge个
xìng姓
shì氏
zài在
zhōng中
guó国
bìng并
bù不
cháng常
jiàn见
 。

The surname Xian is not common in China.

Xián贤
nǚ女
shì士
shì是
yī一
wèi位
zhù著
míng名
de的
yì艺
shù术
jiā家
 。

Ms. Xian is a famous artist.

Xián贤
lǎo老
shī师
jiào教
wǒ我
men们
lì历
shǐ史
kè课
 。

Teacher Xian teaches us history.