尊敬
zūnjìng · HSK 5
respect
🙇 尊 = honor/revere + 敬 = respect; together: deep respect
尊 originally depicted hands offering a wine vessel to elders, meaning to revere. 敬 combines 苟 (caution) with 攵 (action), meaning to act with care. Together they form a strong word for deep respect toward someone honored.
敬 — 苟 (gǒu, phonetic) + 攵 (tap/strike)
Originally depicted a person being urged or disciplined with a stick (攵), with 苟 providing the sound. The early sense was 'to warn' or 'to be on guard,' which extended to careful, attentive behavior. From there it shifted to 'respect' and 'reverence,' the modern meaning.