# 謙 modesty

言 (say) + 兼 (double-duty) Same-ON
★★☆☆☆
17 strokes
BETA

## Onyomi

KEN |

## Mnemonic

| Modest things you say do double-duty: they make you look humble but they also cause people to respect you more for being so modest.

## Jukugo

謙譲語(けんじょうご) | humble formal japanese ★★★☆☆ CCW F 謙 (modesty) + 譲 (concessions) + 語 (language) = 謙譲語 (humble formal japanese) Along with Sonkeigo, Kenjougo is half of Japanese formal speech: When talking to your superiors, you use kenjougo to refer to your own humble actions.
謙虚(けんきょ) | modest ★★☆☆☆ 謙 (modesty) + 虚 (empty) = 謙虚 (modest) modest - this is a word you use about others. "She's got a very modest attitude."
謙遜(けんそん) | other modesty ★★☆☆☆ To downplay your own skills in front of others. You don't ever say "I 謙遜-ed." or "He 謙遜-ed." or "She's really 謙遜-ish." Normally it's only used like : "Please don't 謙遜. We both know you're rad," or "He declined the offer out of modesty."

## Lookalikes

| Meaning | Hint | Radical
--- | --- | --- | ---
嫌 | eww!! | GIRL | 女
謙 | modesty | TALK | 言
嬢 | young lady | KICK IN THE NUTS |

You say eww because GIRLS are gross.

But you are modest when you TALK to them,

because young ladies will KICK YOU IN THE NUTS.

## Synonyms

modest 謙虚 謙遜