谦

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modest

Sound it out + + =

Formation & memory

Break the character into parts you already know.

Phono-semantic compound (形声字)

讠 meaning “speech” + 兼 sound ( jiān )

Components 讠兼

unassuming · Heisig RSH #2218

words + 兼 double

Keyword method from Heisig's Remembering Simplified Hanzi.

The most common words first — learning a character in context makes it stick.

Word	Pinyin	Meaning
满招损，谦受益	mǎn zhāo sǔn , qiān shòu yì	(idiom) complacency leads to loss, modesty brings profit; pride comes before a fall
囊谦县	Náng qiān Xiàn	Nangqên, a county in Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture 玉樹藏族自治州\|玉树藏族自治州[Yu4 shu4 Zang4 zu…
自谦	zì qiān	modest; self-deprecating
谦语	qiān yǔ	humble expression
谦和	qiān hé	meek; modest; amiable
谦词	qiān cí	modest word (grammar)
谦称	qiān chēng	modest appellation
谦虚	qiān xū	modest; self-effacing; to make modest remarks
谦辞	qiān cí	humble words; self-deprecatory expression; to modestly decline
囊谦	Náng qiān	see 囊謙縣\|囊谦县[Nang2 qian1 Xian4]
谦让	qiān ràng	to modestly decline
谦诚	qiān chéng	modest and sincere; humble
谦逊	qiān xùn	humble; modest; unpretentious; modesty
谦卑	qiān bēi	humble
谦恭	qiān gōng	polite and modest

Characters sharing the sound component 兼 — compare how they read.

Character	Pinyin	Meaning
兼 sound part	jiān	both, and; at the same time; to unite, to combine
嫌	xián	to hate, to detest; to criticize; to suspect
赚	zhuàn	to earn, to profit, to make money
歉	qiàn	deficient, lacking; to apologize, to regret, to be sorry
蒹	jiān	common reed; Phragmites communis
鹣	jiān	phoenix; fabulous mythical bird
慊	qiè	satisfied, content
缣	jiān	fine silk