Skip to content
Start your Chinese Learning JourneyStart Now
尊严 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
尊严zūnyándignityHSK 7, a, rank #4275, Hard
尊严zūnyánsanctityHSK 7, a, rank #4275, Hard
尊严zūnyánhonorHSK 7, a, rank #4275, Hard
尊严zūnyánmajestyHSK 7, a, rank #4275, Hard
zūnyán(zun1yan2) T1
  1. 1dignity
  2. 2sanctity
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
尊严(尊嚴)zūnyán(zun1yan2)

尊严 (zūn yán) refers to a sense of dignity or honor associated with a person's worth and social standing. It is often used in contexts discussing personal integrity, respect, and the value of human life, emphasizing how individuals should be treated with honor in society.

Frequency#4275DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

The concept of 尊严 is deeply rooted in Chinese culture, reflecting Confucian values that emphasize respect for oneself and others. In Chinese society, maintaining one's dignity is crucial, especially in family and community relationships.

Memory Tip

Think of 尊 (zūn) as 'to respect' and 严 (yán) as 'strict' or 'serious.' Together, you can imagine a king (representing dignity) who is both respected and has strict standards for how he should be treated. Visualize a regal figure on a throne demanding respect, which helps you remember the pronunciation and meaning.

Meanings of 尊严

zūnyán(zun1yan2)
1dignity
2sanctity
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 尊严

尊严Simplified
尊嚴Traditional
Strokes
Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#4275Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

Podcast: 尊严

JasonAmy

Podcast: 尊严

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 尊严

Quick Contrast

尊重 (zūnzhòng) - choose 尊严 when emphasizing inherent dignity, while 尊重 focuses more on the act of respecting someone.

Memory Mnemonic

Think of 尊 (zūn) as 'to respect' and 严 (yán) as 'strict' or 'serious.' Together, you can imagine a king (representing dignity) who is both respected and has strict standards for how he should be treated. Visualize a regal figure on a throne demanding respect, which helps you remember the pronunciation and meaning.

Usage Notes

尊严 is used in both formal and informal contexts, but it often appears in discussions about human rights or social issues. Be careful not to confuse it with 重要 (zhòng yào), which means 'important'; while they overlap in meaning, 尊严 specifically conveys respect and honor. Common collocations include '维护尊严' (maintain dignity).

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK Level 6 word, 尊严 is advanced and connects with other abstract nouns like 权利 (quán lì, rights) and 自由 (zì yóu, freedom). Students should focus on understanding its usage in complex sentences and discussing related social concepts.

Cultural Note

The concept of 尊严 is deeply rooted in Chinese culture, reflecting Confucian values that emphasize respect for oneself and others. In Chinese society, maintaining one's dignity is crucial, especially in family and community relationships.

Common Mistakes

Learners often misuse 尊严 by substituting it with similar words such as 荣誉 (róng yù, honor), which carries a different nuance. For example, saying '他有很多荣誉' (He has a lot of dignity) is incorrect; it should be '他有很高的尊严' (He has a high dignity).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 尊严

Premium — Locked

AI tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of 尊严 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsInstant feedback+5 XP
See plans to unlock

Component Characters

zūnsenior
HSK 412 strokes
View full entry
yántight (closely sealed)
HSK 67 strokes
View full entry

Write 尊严

Practice writing 尊严 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 尊严

尊严 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 4 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 3

Complete the Sentence

他时刻提防着任何有辱____之事。

He is constantly on guard against any threat of humiliation.

Example Sentences for 尊严 (3)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
他时刻提防着任何有辱尊严之事。

tā shí kè tí fáng zháo rèn hé yǒu rǔ zūn yán zhī shì。

He is constantly on guard against any threat of humiliation.
2
我们当然想为英国网球挽回一些尊严。

wǒ mén dāng rán xiǎng wéi yīng guó wǎng qiú wǎn huí yī xiē zūn yán。

We definitely wanted to salvage some pride for British tennis.
3
失去了美貌和尊严,她看上去糟透了。

shī qù le měi mào hé zūn yán, , tā kàn shàng qù zāo tòu。

She looks terrible, shorn of all her beauty and dignity.

Cultural Notes for 尊严

🏮Cultural insight

The concept of 尊严 is deeply rooted in Chinese culture, reflecting Confucian values that emphasize respect for oneself and others. In Chinese society, maintaining one's dignity is crucial, especially in family and community relationships.

Frequently Asked Questions about 尊严

You can use it in a sentence like '每个人都应该受到尊严的对待' (Everyone should be treated with dignity).