沉稳

• Pinyin: chén wěn
• Hanzi breakdown: 沉 = 氵 (water) + 冘 (phonetic); 稳 = 禾 (grain) + 急 (urgent) with heart = stable despite urgency

Meaning

Calm and steady; composed; unflappable. Describes a person who remains level-headed under pressure.

A positive trait describing someone who doesn't panic or get flustered easily. Often used to describe mature, reliable people. Common in professional and character assessments.

Examples

1. 他处事沉稳，从不慌张。 He handles matters calmly and never panics.
2. 随着年龄增长，她变得越来越沉稳了。 As she grew older, she became more and more composed.
3. 这个职位需要一个性格沉稳的人来担任。 This position requires someone with a steady personality.

Usage Guide

Context: character, professional, compliment

Tone: positive

Do Say

• 他年纪轻轻却非常沉稳。(He's young but very composed.)
• 遇到紧急情况要保持沉稳。(Stay calm when encountering emergencies.)

Don't Say

• 这个颜色很沉稳 (While 沉稳 can describe colors like deep navy, it's primarily for people — for colors, 深沉 or 稳重 is more common)

Origin & History

Compound of 沉 (deep, calm) and 稳 (stable, steady). Together describing deep steadiness.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal