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恭敬不如从命

gōng jìng bù rú cóng mìngdictionary entry
DEFINITION CC-CEDICT
deference is no substitute for obedience (idiom) / (said to accept sb's request, invitation etc)
Sources & editorial notes

Reference definitions: CC-CEDICT contributors and MDBG, CC BY-SA 4.0. Source release 2026-10-27T01:55:52Z. Imported 2026-10-27. Definition wording and meaning order are retained. Recognized pronunciation references are displayed with tone marks; the original source record is available below.

Source record: cd-eb3b2b6c92a8c200. Source SHA-256: bbc4b27f26bee1a262f4d7939667a040c7857c7fc0200a2fa7a86d3352a09eae.

Original source entry:

恭敬不如從命 恭敬不如从命 [gong1 jing4 bu4 ru2 cong2 ming4] /deference is no substitute for obedience (idiom)/(said to accept sb's request, invitation etc)/

Reference definitions and teaching material have separate provenance.

Reference information

The definitions above are from CC-CEDICT. Examples and usage notes are available on selected entries.

Character information

View the individual characters. Their meanings do not necessarily explain the meaning of the whole word.

Other forms in these source records: 恭敬不如從命

  • 恭
    gōng

    respectful

  • 敬
    jìng

    (bound form) respectful / to respect / to offer politely

  • 不
    bù

    no / not so / (bound form) not / un-

  • 如
    rú

    as / as if / such as

  • 从
    cóng

    from / through / via / (bound form) to follow / (bound form) to obey / (bound form) to engage in (an activity) / (used before a negative) ever / (bound form) (Taiwan pr. [zòng]) retainer / attendant / (bound form) (Taiwan pr. [zòng]) assistant / auxiliary / subordinate / (bound form) (Taiwan pr. [zòng]) related by common paternal grandfather or earlier ancestor

    Cóng

    surname Cong

  • 命
    mìng

    life / fate / order or command / to assign a name, title etc

Reference definitions from CC-CEDICT.