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March 24, 2026
慎shèn(shen4)
慎 (shèn) means to be careful or cautious. It is often used in contexts where one needs to exercise caution or prudence, such as in decision-making or behavior in sensitive situations. The character conveys a sense of mindfulness and attention to detail.
Strokes13Radical忄Frequency#18407DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, being慎 is highly valued, especially in business and interpersonal relationships. This reflects the broader cultural emphasis on harmony and avoiding conflicts through careful consideration of actions and words.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person carefully stepping over a crack in the sidewalk to avoid falling. The character 慎 is visually composed of the heart radical (心), representing feelings or thoughts, combined with the element of caution, reminding you to be 'careful with your heart'.
Meanings of 慎
shèn(shen4)
1careful
2cautious
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
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About 慎
慎Simplified
13Strokes
忄Radical
人名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#18407Frequency Rank
Podcast: 慎
Podcast: 慎
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AI Study Notes for 慎
Quick Contrast
谨 (jǐn) - use 慎 (shèn) when emphasizing carefulness in sensitive situations, while 谨 (jǐn) often implies a more formal or respectful caution.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a person carefully stepping over a crack in the sidewalk to avoid falling. The character 慎 is visually composed of the heart radical (心), representing feelings or thoughts, combined with the element of caution, reminding you to be 'careful with your heart'.
Usage Notes
慎 is often used in more formal contexts, such as official documents or discussions about serious matters. Common collocations include 慎重 (shèn zhòng, to be cautious) and 要慎 (yào shèn, to be careful). Be mindful of tone, as mispronouncing it can lead to confusion with similar-sounding words.
HSK Study Tips
Though not currently assigned an HSK level, 慎 connects to vocabulary around behavior and decision-making at higher levels. Focus on its use in formal contexts and its collocations with other cautionary terms.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, being慎 is highly valued, especially in business and interpersonal relationships. This reflects the broader cultural emphasis on harmony and avoiding conflicts through careful consideration of actions and words.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 慎 with similar characters like 轻 (qīng, light) when discussing caution. Remember that慎 specifically conveys carefulness and prudence rather than just being light or easygoing.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 慎
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Grammar Patterns of 慎
慎 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). 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.
Keegan and company approached the game with understandable caution.
8
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.
9
她那更为慎重的答复会受到选民的欢迎。
tā nà gēng wéi shèn zhòng de dá fù huì shòu dào xuǎn mín de huān yíng。
Her more measured response will appeal to voters.
10
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.
Cultural Notes for 慎
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, being慎 is highly valued, especially in business and interpersonal relationships. This reflects the broader cultural emphasis on harmony and avoiding conflicts through careful consideration of actions and words.
Word Family of 慎
Words Containing This Character14
谨慎jǐnshèncautious謹慎
慎重shènzhòngcautious
慎shèncareful
不慎búshènincautious
小心谨慎careful小心謹慎
审慎prudent審慎
慎独to preserve a proper behavior in private life慎獨
石原慎太郎Ishihara Jintarō (1932-), Japanese author and politician, governor of Tokyo since 1999
许慎Xu Shen (-147) the compiler of the original Han dynasty dictionary Shuowen Jiezi 說文解字|说文解字[ShuōwénJiězì]許慎
慎密cautious
戒慎vigilant
肃慎ancient ethnic group of northeast frontier of China肅慎
慎终追远to pay careful attention to one's parents' funerary rites慎終追遠
慎重其事to treat a matter with due consideration (idiom)
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 谨慎 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 慎
慎 emphasizes a deeper level of caution often in serious contexts, while 小心 (xiǎo xīn) is more about being careful in everyday situations.
You can say '在做决定的时候，要慎重考虑所有的选项' which means 'When making decisions, you should consider all options carefully.'
It's more common in written or formal contexts; in casual conversation, 小心 is preferred.
