敦厚

• Pinyin: dūn hòu
• Hanzi breakdown: 敦 = earnestness with moral weight; 厚 = 厂 (cliff/shelter) + 日 (sun) + 子 (child) — thick and sheltering, hence generous and substantial

Meaning

Sincere and kind-hearted; honest, generous, and unpretentious in character. Describes a person of solid moral virtue without ostentation.

敦厚 is a classical virtue term, often used in obituaries, character assessments, and literary descriptions. It combines 敦 (earnest, solid) and 厚 (thick, generous) to evoke someone who is dependable, warm, and morally grounded. Common in descriptions of rural elders, traditional craftsmen, or morally admirable figures. Contrasts with 轻浮 (frivolous) or 虚伪 (hypocritical).

Examples

1. 村里的老木匠性情敦厚，从不与人争利，几十年来深受乡邻敬重。 The village’s old carpenter had a gentle, honest nature and never competed with others for personal gain; for decades he was deeply respected by his neighbors.
2. 这位作家笔下的父亲形象敦厚朴实，代表了那一代人最典型的品格。 In this writer’s work, the father figure is sincere and down-to-earth, representing the most typical character of that generation.
3. 导师敦厚的为人赢得了学生们的由衷敬佩，许多人视他为人生榜样。 The advisor’s sincere character earned students’ genuine admiration, and many regard him as a role model in life.

Usage Guide

Context: character description, obituaries, literature, moral praise

Tone: appreciative

Do Say

• 他的品行敦厚，无论在何种境遇下都能坦然处世，从不以势压人，赢得了众人的尊重。(His character is sincere and generous — he faces every circumstance with equanimity, never wielding his position to oppress others, earning the respect of all.)
• 这部小说中的主人公性格敦厚，在经历了种种磨难之后依然保持着对人性的善意与信任。(The protagonist of this novel is kind-hearted and sincere; even after enduring numerous hardships, he maintains his goodwill and trust in human nature.)

Don't Say

• 这道菜味道敦厚 — 敦厚 describes human character, not flavour; say 这道菜口感醇厚 or 味道浓郁 for rich, full-bodied taste

Origin & History

敦 (earnest/sincere) + 厚 (thick/generous) — characterised by moral depth and generous sincerity

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal