Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
诚恳(誠懇)chéngkěn(cheng2ken3)
诚恳 (chéngkěn) means being sincere and honest in one's actions and words. It is often used to describe a person's demeanor when they genuinely express their feelings or intentions without pretense. This word is commonly used in both personal and professional contexts, emphasizing the importance of honesty in relationships.
Frequency#11101DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, being 诚恳 is highly valued, particularly in business and interpersonal relationships. It reflects a deep respect for others and is considered essential for building trust and rapport.
Memory Tip
Think of 诚 (chéng) as a 'sincere heart' that is open and honest, and 恳 (kěn) as 'kneeling down to ask earnestly.' Visualize someone kneeling to express their heartfelt sincerity, which can help you remember both the meaning and pronunciation.
Meanings of 诚恳
chéngkěn(cheng2ken3)
1sincere
2honest
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 诚恳
诚恳Simplified
誠懇Traditional
—Strokes
—Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#11101Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L7AdvancedTOCFLL5CEFRC2
Podcast: 诚恳
Podcast: 诚恳
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 诚恳
Quick Contrast
诚实 (chéngshí) — use 诚恳 (chéngkěn) when emphasizing sincerity in demeanor, while 诚实 (chéngshí) focuses more on honesty as a trait.
Memory Mnemonic
Think of 诚 (chéng) as a 'sincere heart' that is open and honest, and 恳 (kěn) as 'kneeling down to ask earnestly.' Visualize someone kneeling to express their heartfelt sincerity, which can help you remember both the meaning and pronunciation.
Usage Notes
A common mistake is to confuse 诚恳 with similar terms like 诚实 (chéngshí), which means 'honest' but lacks the emotional nuance of sincerity. Use 诚恳 in contexts where you want to emphasize heartfelt honesty, especially in formal situations like interviews or negotiations.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK 5 word, 诚恳 connects with other words describing character and integrity, such as 诚信 (chéngxìn, 'integrity') and 真实 (zhēnshí, 'genuine'). Focus on using 诚恳 in sentences that highlight emotional honesty.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, being 诚恳 is highly valued, particularly in business and interpersonal relationships. It reflects a deep respect for others and is considered essential for building trust and rapport.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly use 诚恳 in contexts where a more casual term like 随便 (suíbiàn, 'casual') would be appropriate. For example, saying '他很诚恳的来这里' (He sincerely came here) is incorrect; it should be '他很随便的来这里' (He casually came here).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 诚恳
Premium — Locked
AI tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 诚恳 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 诚恳 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Write correctly 3 times to earn XP
Grammar Patterns of 诚恳
诚恳 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 3 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.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
她凝视着他的眼睛，一脸____。
Her eyes stared into his with an expression of absolute honesty.
Example Sentences for 诚恳 (4)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
她凝视着他的眼睛，一脸诚恳。
tā níng shì zháo tā de yǎn jīng， ， yī liǎn chéng。
Her eyes stared into his with an expression of absolute honesty.
2
这个电话是一位绅士打来的，他似乎非常诚恳。
zhè gè diàn huà shì yī wèi shēn shì dǎ lái de， ， tā sì hū fēi cháng chéng。
I got this phone call from a gentleman, who seemed sincere enough.
3
她的声音尽管听起来很平谈, 但比大声的要求更加诚恳.
tā de shēng yīn jìn guǎn tīng qǐ lái hěn píng tán, , dàn bǐ dà shēng de yào qiú gēng jiā chéng.
Though her voice was toneless, it plead more loudly than words.
4
不管他做过些什么,这番话听起来倒还很诚恳.
bù guǎn tā zuò guò xiē shí mó, , zhè fān huà tīng qǐ lái dǎo huán hěn chéng.
It'sounded sincere enough, however , despite all he had done.
Cultural Notes for 诚恳
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, being 诚恳 is highly valued, particularly in business and interpersonal relationships. It reflects a deep respect for others and is considered essential for building trust and rapport.
Frequently Asked Questions about 诚恳
You can say: '他非常诚恳地对我说了他的想法' (He sincerely shared his thoughts with me).
Yes, 诚恳 can be used in both contexts, but it's especially important in formal situations to convey sincerity.
Synonyms include 诚实 (chéngshí, 'honest') and 真诚 (zhēnchéng, 'genuine').
