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谨慎 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
谨慎jǐnshèncautiousHSK 5, a, rank #4476, Hard
谨慎jǐnshènprudentHSK 5, a, rank #4476, Hard
jǐnshèn(jin3shen4) T3
  1. 1cautious
  2. 2prudent
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March 24, 2026
谨慎(謹慎)jǐnshèn(jin3shen4)

谨慎 (jǐn shèn) means being cautious or prudent, often in the context of making decisions or taking actions. This term conveys a sense of careful consideration to avoid risks or mistakes, and it is commonly used in both personal and professional settings, particularly when discussing important matters.

Frequency#4476DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, being 谨慎 is highly valued, especially in business and interpersonal relationships. It reflects a deep-rooted belief in the importance of careful planning and consideration to maintain harmony and avoid conflict.

Memory Tip

Imagine a 'gentle' man (谨) who is 'shining' (慎) like a star, always taking care to tread lightly and avoid dangers. Visualize him tiptoeing around sharp objects, reminding you to be cautious in your own decisions, just like he is.

Meanings of 谨慎

jǐnshèn(jin3shen4)
1cautious
2prudent
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 谨慎

谨慎Simplified
謹慎Traditional
—Strokes
—Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#4476Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L5AdvancedCEFRC2

Podcast: 谨慎

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Podcast: 谨慎

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AI Study Notes for 谨慎

Quick Contrast

小心 (xiǎoxīn) vs 谨慎 (jǐnshèn): Use 谨慎 when emphasizing a careful and prudent approach in decision-making, while 小心 focuses more on being careful to avoid immediate danger.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a 'gentle' man (谨) who is 'shining' (慎) like a star, always taking care to tread lightly and avoid dangers. Visualize him tiptoeing around sharp objects, reminding you to be cautious in your own decisions, just like he is.

Usage Notes

Be aware that some learners might confuse 谨慎 with similar words like 小心 (xiǎo xīn), which also means cautious but is more informal. Use 谨慎 in formal contexts, especially in business or when discussing serious matters. Remember to correctly pronounce the third tone (jǐn) and the fourth tone (shèn).

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK Level 5 word, 谨慎 connects well with other vocabulary about personality traits and decision-making. Focus on using it in sentences to describe actions or decisions that require careful thought, and practice its pronunciation with attention to the tones.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, being 谨慎 is highly valued, especially in business and interpersonal relationships. It reflects a deep-rooted belief in the importance of careful planning and consideration to maintain harmony and avoid conflict.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mix up 谨慎 with careless terms like 轻率 (qīng shuài), which means reckless. Remember, 谨慎 emphasizes carefulness, while 轻率 suggests the opposite.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 谨慎

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Component Characters

谨jǐncautious
HSK 713 strokes讠
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慎shèncareful
13 strokes忄
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Write 谨慎

谨
慎

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Grammar Patterns of 谨慎

谨慎 functions as an adjective. In Chinese it behaves like a stative verb: place it directly after the subject without 是 (我很高，not 我是高). Use 不 to negate (不高) and pair it with 很 in plain affirmative sentences. It carries 2 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Related grammar lessons1
Exercise 1 of 1

Complete the Sentence

那次失败让他深刻反思，此后他变得更加____。

That failure made him reflect deeply, and after that he became much more cautious.

Example Sentences for 谨慎 (10)

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1
他们过于谨慎也许是明智的。

tā mén guò yú jǐn shèn yě xǔ shì míng zhì de。

They may be wise to err on the side of caution.
2
他做事闷声不响，小心谨慎，有点死气沉沉的。

tā zuò shì mèn shēng bù xiǎng， ， xiǎo xīn jǐn， shèn ， yǒu diǎn sǐ qì chén。

He was quiet, conscientious, a bit of a plodder.
3
这种事情需要谨慎行事有3个原因。

zhè zhǒng shì qíng xū yào jǐn shèn háng shì yǒu3 3 gè yuán。

There are three reasons for treading warily in such matters.
4
要谨慎行事，保护好自己并保持低调。

yào jǐn shèn háng shì， ， bǎo hù hǎo zì jǐ bìng bǎo chí dī。

Just play it safe, cover your ass, keep your head down.
5
他们的谨慎得到了很好的回报。

tā mén de jǐn shèn dé dào le hěn hǎo de huí bào。

Their caution has been richly rewarded.
6
基根一伙人小心谨慎地对待这场比赛，这是可以理解的。

jī gēn yī huǒ rén xiǎo xīn jǐn shèn dì duì dài zhè cháng bǐ sài， ， zhè shì kě yǐ lǐ jiě。

Keegan and company approached the game with understandable caution.
7
那两个记者谨慎地保持距离跟在后面。

nà liǎng gè jì zhě jǐn shèn dì bǎo chí jù lí gēn zài hòu miàn。

The two journalists followed at a discreet distance.
8
雇主在雇用新职员时可能会变得过于谨慎。

gù zhǔ zài gù yòng xīn zhí yuán shí kě néng huì biàn dé guò yú jǐn shèn。

Employers may become overly cautious about taking on new staff.
9
小心谨慎的人是不会轻易冒险的。

xiǎo xīn jǐn shèn de rén shì bù huì qīng yì mào xiǎn de。

Prudent people are not going to take a leap in the dark.
10
批评他的人不把他当回事，认为他太过谨慎，不能成事。

pī píng tā de rén bù bǎ tā dāng huí shì， ， rèn wéi tā tài guò jǐn， shèn ， bù néng。

His critics write him off as too cautious to succeed.

Cultural Notes for 谨慎

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, being 谨慎 is highly valued, especially in business and interpersonal relationships. It reflects a deep-rooted belief in the importance of careful planning and consideration to maintain harmony and avoid conflict.

Frequently Asked Questions about 谨慎

谨慎 (jǐn shèn) is more formal and refers to a prudent approach in decision-making, while 小心 (xiǎo xīn) is more informal and often used for immediate caution.