Chinese honorifics (Chinese: 敬語; pinyin: Jìngyǔ) and honorific language are words, word constructs, and expressions in the Chinese language that convey self-deprecation, social respect, politeness, or deference.[1] Once ubiquitously employed in ancient China, a large percent has fallen out of use in the contemporary Chinese lexicon. The promotion of vernacular Chinese during the New Culture Movement (新文化運動 or 五四文化運動) of the 1910s and 1920s in China further hastened the demise of a large body of Chinese honorifics previously preserved in the vocabulary and grammar of Classical Chinese.[2]
Although Chinese honorifics have simplified to a large degree, contemporary Chinese still retains a sizable set of honorifics. Many of the classical constructs are also occasionally employed by contemporary speakers to convey formality, humility, politeness or respect. Usage of classical Chinese honorifics is also found frequently in contemporary Chinese literature and television or cinematic productions that are set in the historical periods. Honorific language in Chinese is achieved by using honorific or beautifying alternatives, prefixing or suffixing a word with a polite complement, or by dropping casual-sounding words.[3]
In general, there are five distinct categories of honorific language:
Respectful Language (敬辭; Jìngcí), which is used when referring to others to show deference and politeness.
Humble Language (謙辭; Qiāncí), which is used when referring to oneself in a self-deprecating manner to show humbleness and humility.
Indirect Language (婉辭; Wǎncí), which is the use of euphemisms or tactful language to approach sensitive topics and show respect.
Courteous Language (客套語; Kètàoyǔ), which employs praising and laudatory words or phrases with the intent to flatter the addressee.
Elegant Language (雅語; Yáyǔ), which employs elegant and beautiful expressions and words in lieu of more casual words and phrases to describe people, objects, actions or concepts.
^""尊稱"的解釋 | 漢典". www.zdic.net (in Chinese (China)). Retrieved 2022-10-18.
^Chow, Tse-tsung (1960). The May Fourth Movement: Intellectual Revolution in Modern China. Stanford University Press.
^"謙稱敬稱" (PDF). Civil Service Bureau (Hong Kong). p. 5. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
Further reading
Yuling Pan, Dániel Z. Kádár: Politeness In Historical and Contemporary Chinese. A Comparative Analysis. London / New York: Continuum, 2011; ISBN978-1-8470-6275-8.
February 26, 2023
chinese, honorifics, this, article, contains, special, characters, without, proper, rendering, support, question, marks, boxes, other, symbols, chinese, 敬語, pinyin, jìngyǔ, honorific, language, words, word, constructs, expressions, chinese, language, that, con. This article contains special characters Without proper rendering support you may see question marks boxes or other symbols Chinese honorifics Chinese 敬語 pinyin Jingyǔ and honorific language are words word constructs and expressions in the Chinese language that convey self deprecation social respect politeness or deference 1 Once ubiquitously employed in ancient China a large percent has fallen out of use in the contemporary Chinese lexicon The promotion of vernacular Chinese during the New Culture Movement 新文化運動 or 五四文化運動 of the 1910s and 1920s in China further hastened the demise of a large body of Chinese honorifics previously preserved in the vocabulary and grammar of Classical Chinese 2 Although Chinese honorifics have simplified to a large degree contemporary Chinese still retains a sizable set of honorifics Many of the classical constructs are also occasionally employed by contemporary speakers to convey formality humility politeness or respect Usage of classical Chinese honorifics is also found frequently in contemporary Chinese literature and television or cinematic productions that are set in the historical periods Honorific language in Chinese is achieved by using honorific or beautifying alternatives prefixing or suffixing a word with a polite complement or by dropping casual sounding words 3 In general there are five distinct categories of honorific language Respectful Language 敬辭 Jingci which is used when referring to others to show deference and politeness Humble Language 謙辭 Qianci which is used when referring to oneself in a self deprecating manner to show humbleness and humility Indirect Language 婉辭 Wǎnci which is the use of euphemisms or tactful language to approach sensitive topics and show respect Courteous Language 客套語 Ketaoyǔ which employs praising and laudatory words or phrases with the intent to flatter the addressee Elegant Language 雅語 Yayǔ which employs elegant and beautiful expressions and words in lieu of more casual words and phrases to describe people objects actions or concepts See also China portal Language portalChinese titles Chinese pronouns Chinese kinship Chinese idiomsReferences 尊稱 的解釋 漢典 www zdic net in Chinese China Retrieved 2022 10 18 Chow Tse tsung 1960 The May Fourth Movement Intellectual Revolution in Modern China Stanford University Press 謙稱敬稱 PDF Civil Service Bureau Hong Kong p 5 Retrieved 18 October 2022 Further readingYuling Pan Daniel Z Kadar Politeness In Historical and Contemporary Chinese A Comparative Analysis London New York Continuum 2011 ISBN 978 1 8470 6275 8 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Chinese honorifics amp oldid 1128930273, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
