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拳拳服膺 (けんけんふくよう) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Meanings 1
noun, noun or participle which takes 'suru'
bear firmly in mind ; engrave on one's heart
yojijukugo (four-character idiom)
A formal yojijukugo meaning to keep something deeply and constantly in mind, as if holding it close to one's chest. Often used in literary or didactic contexts.
彼かれ
は
その
言こと
葉ば
を
拳けん
拳けん
服ふく
膺よう
し
、
決けっ
して
忘わす
れ
なかっ
た
。
He bore those words firmly in mind and never forgot them.
Written forms 拳けん 拳けん 服ふく 膺よう
Standard kanji form for this yojijukugo.
拳けん 々けん 服ふく 膺よう
Variant with iteration mark 々; less common but still seen.
Similar words 肝きも に 銘めい じる More common and colloquial expression for taking something to heart; 拳拳服膺 is more formal and literary.
心こころ に 刻きざ む Everyday phrase for engraving something on one's heart; 拳拳服膺 carries a stronger sense of constant, respectful remembrance.
Etymology From Chinese 拳拳服膺 (quánquán fúyīng), meaning to hold something close to one's chest and never forget it. The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the phrase is used in classical Chinese texts.
