Chinese honorifics

Chinese honorifics and honorific language (.mw-parser-output ruby>rt,.mw-parser-output ruby>rtc{font-feature-settings:'ruby'1}.mw-parser-output ruby.large{font-size:250%}.mw-parser-output ruby.large>rt,.mw-parser-output ruby.large>rtc{font-size:.3em}敬辞 (jìngcí)，谦辞 (qiāncí)，婉辞 (wǎncí)，客套语 (kètàoyǔ)，雅语 (yáyŭ)) are words, word constructs, and expressions in the Chinese language that convey self-deprecation, social respect, politeness, or deference. 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 (新文化运动 or 五四文化运动) 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. Also 下走 in classical.Also 蒙.Also “窃闻”, “窃思”奴 and 婢 were sometimes used alone for the same meaning.本~ ('This') is a recurring prefix.本~ ('This') is a recurring prefix.妾身 is also used.小~ (Lit. small, insignificant) is a recurring humble prefix.本~ ('This') is a recurring prefix.本~ ('This') is a recurring prefix.本~ ('This') is a recurring prefix.本~ ('This') is a recurring prefix.Occasionally used in contemporary Chinese.晚~('late') is a recurring humble prefix.Often used as a prefix: 不肖子，不肖女，不肖徒Also 侍生.后学 and 后进 were also used.贫~('poor') is a recurring humble prefix.Also 舍間、舍下Also 山荊、荊屋、山妻.Also 息女可汗、單于 used for some minority rulers of China.In the Qing Dynasty, the Manchurian variant 皇阿玛 is used.In the Qing Dynasty, the Manchurian variant 皇额娘 is used.('Empress Your Highness')Can be used as a suffix ~殿下, for example: 公主殿下， 王子殿下Can be used as an honorific suffix ~大人 after a title or a name. Examples: 知府大人，张大人Can be used as a suffix ~阁下 after a title or a name.Can be used as a suffix ~前辈 after a title or a name.贤~ prefix贤~ prefix愛人 (my beloved person) is a contemporary usage as another name for wife. It's not used as 2nd person pronoun.Contemporary in 3rd person only.Sometimes 长~ is used: 长兄，长姐贤~ prefix.Also 兄长Also 令严.Also 令慈.Used often with personal surnames in contemporary Chinese: 小张，小明 as a diminutive.Also: ~董 (from 董事长) 周董，张董Also used for things related to the emperor, for example: 圣宠 (emperor's love), 圣related to 兄台 Chinese honorifics and honorific language (.mw-parser-output ruby>rt,.mw-parser-output ruby>rtc{font-feature-settings:'ruby'1}.mw-parser-output ruby.large{font-size:250%}.mw-parser-output ruby.large>rt,.mw-parser-output ruby.large>rtc{font-size:.3em}敬辞 (jìngcí)，谦辞 (qiāncí)，婉辞 (wǎncí)，客套语 (kètàoyǔ)，雅语 (yáyŭ)) are words, word constructs, and expressions in the Chinese language that convey self-deprecation, social respect, politeness, or deference. 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 (新文化运动 or 五四文化运动) 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. 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. In general, language referring to oneself exhibits self-deprecating humbleness - called 谦语 (qiānyŭ) ('humble language'), while language referring to others shows approval and respect - called 敬语 (jìngyǔ) ('respectful language'). Other types of honorific language include 婉语 (wǎnyŭ) ('indirect language'), 客套语 (kètàoyǔ) ('courteous language'), and 雅语 (yáyŭ) ('elegant language') that are often used to convey a sense of respect, courtesy, or elegance. Because of its official status as the common language of China, Mandarin Chinese is used herein synonymously with the term 'contemporary Chinese'. Variations in usage and grammar exist in the numerous modern Chinese dialects. The term 知书达礼 (Literally -- one who knows the books and achieves proper mannerism) has been used to praise and characterize those of high academic and moral accomplishments and those of proper manner and conduct. Using the proper honorific or humble forms of address and other parts of speech toward oneself and toward others is an important element or requirement in the proper observation of 礼仪 (lǐyí, etiquette, formality, and mannerism). Honorific parts of speech include pronoun substitutes, modified nouns, proper nouns, and pronouns, modified verbs, honorific adjectives, honorific 成语 (chéngyǔ, 'canned phrases/idioms'), and honorific alternatives for other neutral or deprecating words. In ancient China, myriad humble and respectful forms of address, in lieu of personal pronouns and names, were used for various social relationships and situations. The choice of a pronoun substitute was often in adherence to the concepts of 尊卑 (zūnbēi) (Lit. above-beneath / superior-subordinate, “social hierarchy”), 贵贱 (guìjiàn) (Lit. worthy-worthless, 'social class'), and 辈分 (bèifèn) ('seniority') or 辈 (bèi) for short. In the Confucian philosophical classic of 易传·系辞上 (yìzhuàn xìcí shàng) or 'Yizhuan - Xici' -- a latter day commentary on the book of 易经 (yìjīng) or 'I Ching' ('Book of Changes'), it is stated '天尊地卑，乾坤定矣。卑高以陈，贵贱位矣。' -- it was believed in ancient China that both the order of nature, i.e., 天尊地卑 (heaven be above, earth be beneath), and from it the derived order of man, were long predetermined and dictated by the heavens, e.g., 君尊臣卑 (king be above/superior, court officials be beneath/subordinate), 男尊女卑 (man superior, woman subordinate), 夫尊婦卑 (husband superior, wife subordinate), and 父尊子卑 (father superior, son subordinate) etc. Every king and their subject, every man and woman, every husband and wife, and every father and son, should naturally follow this predetermined order and practice proper 礼仪 (lǐyí) and conduct. As a large part of 礼仪 (lǐyí), proper speech was of great importance. Therefore in speech, among other forms of 礼仪 (lǐyí) and social behaviors, the 'subordinate' or 'inferior' would employ self-deprecating and humble language towards self and respectful language towards the 'superior' as a recognition of their relative places in the 'natural' hierarchy. On the other hand, the 'superiors' would often also use humble language as a display of humility and virtue. Unsurprisingly, the characters 尊~ and 卑~ also became honorific and humble prefixes, respectively. For example, the humble substitute 卑下 (bēixià)(this inferior one below) would be used, among other deprecating substitutes, in place of the pronoun 'I', and the honorific substitute 尊上 (zūnshàng) (the superior one above) would replace the pronoun 'you' (later also used for 'your parents'). Related to 尊卑 (zūnbēi) is the concept of 贵贱 (guìjiàn). Those with power, money and status were 贵 (worthy, honorable), and those without were 贱 (worthless, despised). These two characters also became the honorific and humble prefixes 贵~ and 贱~. Examples: 贵国 (your honorable country), 贵庚 (your honorable age), 贵姓 (your honorable surname), 贵公司 (your honorable company), and 贱姓 (my unworthy surname), 贱民 (the unworthy and despised commoner), 贱妾 (this unworthy wife of yours), 贱内 (my unworthy wife), etc. 贵~ remains a commonly used honorific prefix to this day. Likewise, those of a junior 辈分 (bèifèn) (i.e., 晚辈 (wǎnbèi) or 后辈 (hòubèi)) would show respect and deference to their 前辈 (qiánbeì) ('senior') , 长辈 (zhǎngbeì) or 先辈 (xiānbeì) ('elder'), and 祖辈 (zŭbeì) ('ancestors'). 辈分 (bèifèn) is not necessarily based on age, for example, a younger person who entered a school or profession before an older person would be considered the 前辈 (qiánbeì). A person who is much younger than his/her nephew in a large extended family would still be a 长辈 (zhǎngbeì) to the nephew. If two people are of the same 辈分 (bèifèn) (i.e., 平辈 (píngbeì) or 同辈 (tóngbeì)), then either experience or age would determine the hierarchy depending on the situation.