敦厚
dūn hoù · HSK 7
honest and sincere
🤝 敦 earnest + 厚 thick-hearted = sincere to the core
厚 literally means thick or generous. Paired with 敦 (earnest), the compound describes someone whose kindness runs deep — not a surface act but a thick layer of genuine warmth all the way through.
厚 — cliff 厂 + 子 over 日 (sun) component
Originally depicted a tall, thick mound or cliff (厂) with layered earth beneath, showing depth and substance. The core meaning 'thick' extended metaphorically to 'generous,' 'deep,' or 'kind-hearted.' Today 厚 commonly means thick (in dimension) or sincere/generous in character.