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Change log entry 70791
Processed by: richwarm (2020-09-19 12:20:15 GMT)
Comment: << review queue entry 67006 - submitted by 'pepe' >>
Provided definition according to PLC, OCC, ABC

Definition GF:
恭敬而谨慎

Examples
GF: 处世恭谨
Cross-Straits Dict: 他以恭謹的態度面對每一項挑戰, 從來都不敢掉以輕心。
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Editor: It's obvious that "respectful and cautious" is an attempt at a direct translation of 恭敬谨慎, which is the definition found in various dictionaries.

"respectful and cautious" appeared in ACE ("A Chinese Dictionary"), first published in 1978, and has been copied and re-copied in numerous dictionaries since then. The three sources you cited (PLC, OCC and ABC) are based on that 1978 dictionary to a large extent. As far as the entry for 恭謹 goes, they are essentially a *single* source.

The problem is, "respectful and cautious" is not a good definition. Well, the "respectful" part is right, but not "cautious". 恭謹 describes a person's attitude or disposition, and "cautious" suggests that they are wary. But that's not part of the meaning of 恭謹.

The 谨慎 part of 恭敬谨慎, in my opinion, doesn't mean "cautious; wary" but is, in this context, more or less a synonym of 恭敬. It means "behaving in a discreet manner (as one should in order to show respect)".

One dictionary that didn't copy from ACE is the Far East C-E Dictionary. Their definition for 恭謹 is quite good, in my opinion: "respectfully serious".
The "serious" bit reflects the fact that people who are 恭謹 do not display frivolity. They take what they are doing seriously.
On the other hand, being serious (not frivolous) is part of being respectful, so I'm not sure it's necessary to include "serious".

Examples:

1) 走進上海市郊一座台商鞋廠,偌大的廠房安靜無聲,上千名勞工埋首裁剪;不時巡查的台灣幹部在旁盯促指點,受教的工人則一臉恭謹,努力學著。誰能預料,這裡面,有多少工人會出師成為未來老闆、台商的競爭者?
"As you enter a Taiwanese shoe manufacturing plant in a suburban county of Shanghai, the factory is silent as the 1,000 or so workers bury their heads in concentration over their cutting. Taiwanese managers who periodically make the rounds watch and offer advice, while the employees look respectful and eager to learn more. Who knows how many of the workers in this factory will not themselves become skilled supervisors and future bosses, competing with the Taiwanese companies?"

(There is no suggestion here that the workers are cautious or wary in their manner.)


2) 老畫家李澤藩夫婦,迄未說聲光榮或驕傲,只恭恭謹謹地把總統、副總統的禮物供在神祖牌前。
This is an elderly Taiwanese couple whose son has received a Nobel Prize in chemistry, and they are offering gifts received from the president and vice-president at the ancestral tablet in their home. It's unlikely they are being "cautious". There is presumably no risk that they need to be wary of.


3) 黃瑞華才剛坐定便一一點起名來,二十多名男性被告和關係人應聲出列,恭謹地站成一排,等候訊問。
As soon as [Judge] Huang sits, she begins calling the names of more than 20 male defendants and persons involved with the case, who stand respectfully in a row and await questioning.

(They are standing respectfully but presumably not "cautiously".)


4) 大哥戴著墨鏡,身穿黑色披風,在眾嘍囉的簇擁下威風行走,突然他想起了什麼,酷酷地手指一勾,嘍囉趕緊拿出行動電話,雙手恭謹奉上:「大哥,打吧!」。
<A triad boss in sunglasses and a black cape strides past groups of underlings. He is suddenly struck by a thought and coolly crooks a finger. An underling rushes over with a cellular phone, and offers it up to the boss with both hands, saying, "Boss, make your call.">

(雙手恭謹奉上 means he hands the phone over deferentially, not warily.)


5) 這種敬神恤鬼,以恭謹和悲心看待一切有情眾生的態度,
This respectful and compassionate attitude toward all sentient beings [shows through ...]

(It would give the wrong idea to say that being cautious is an element of this attitude.)
Diff:
# 恭謹 恭谨 [gong1 jin3] /respectful and cautious/
#
+ 恭謹 恭谨 [gong1 jin3] /(literary) respectful/deferential/
By MDBG 2024
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