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Kotomora

謹

discreet, reverently, humbly

JLPTN1StatusJōyō · secondary schoolFrequencyTop 5,000Strokes17

Readings

On'yomi

  • キン

Kun'yomi

  • つつし.む

Meaning

謹 centers on careful, respectful restraint in behavior and expression: being discreet, acting reverently, or speaking humbly.

Most common words using 謹

20 of 26
  • 不謹慎ふきんしん

    imprudent; indiscreet; immodest; indecent; inconsiderate; inappropriate

  • 謹慎きんしん
    N1

    self restraint; moderating one's own behavior; penitence; discipline

  • 謹製きんせい

    carefully made; carefully produced

  • 謹んでつつしんで

    respectfully; humbly; reverently

  • 謹賀きんが

    wishes of happiness

  • 謹賀新年きんがしんねん

    Happy New Year

  • 謹厳きんげん

    stern; grave; solemn; sobersided

  • 恐恐謹言きょうきょうきんげん

    very truly yours (a complimentary close used in a letter written in an old epistolary style)

  • 恐惶謹言きょうこうきんげん

    very truly yours; very respectfully yours

  • 細謹さいきん

    slight flaw

  • 自宅謹慎じたくきんしん

    confinement to one's home; being made to stay at home

  • 謹んで申し上げますつつしんでもうしあげます

    I wish to state respectfully that ...

  • 謹厳実直きんげんじっちょく

    sober and honest

  • 謹呈きんてい

    humbly presenting; respectfully presenting

  • 謹告きんこく

    informing with respect; announcing respectfully

  • 謹啓きんけい

    Dear Sir or Madam; Dear Sirs; Gentlemen

  • 謹慎処分きんしんしょぶん

    suspension (from work or school)

  • 謹書きんしょ

    respectfully written

  • 謹白きんぱく

    yours sincerely; sincerely yours; yours truly

  • 謹直きんちょく

    conscientious; scrupulous

Explore all words using 謹 →

Study

Etymology

謹 combines 言 (speech) with 堇, which likely contributes the sound and carries a sense of carefulness or restraint. The character expresses discreet, respectful speech.

Meaning mnemonic

Words 言 spoken with the careful restraint of 堇 (a component associated with caution) become discreet and reverent. Imagine choosing your words humbly, as if handling something delicate.

Reading mnemonic

For キン, picture a discreet king who speaks humbly: king -> キン, and his words 言 are always reverent.