俊

• Pinyin: jùn
• Hanzi breakdown: 俊 = 亻 (person) + 夋 (phonetic, suggesting excellence) — handsome, talented, outstanding

Meaning

Handsome; talented; outstanding.

Primarily describes male physical attractiveness (俊俏, 英俊), but can also mean talented or outstanding (俊杰, 俊才). A classical and literary term, more elegant than 帅 (which is more colloquial). Often used in names. When describing appearance, typically applies to men; for women, 俊俏 or 俏丽 are more common.

Examples

1. 他长得又高又俊，是学校里的风云人物。 He's tall and handsome — a big deal at school.
2. 自古英雄出少年，乱世多俊杰。 Since ancient times heroes have emerged from the young; turbulent times produce many outstanding talents.
3. 这孩子眉清目俊，一看就是个聪明相。 This child has clear brows and handsome features — obviously a clever one.

Usage Guide

Context: appearance, praise, names

Tone: complimentary

Do Say

• 这小伙子长得真俊。(This young man is really handsome.)
• 乱世出英雄，也出俊杰。(Turbulent times produce heroes and outstanding talents.)

Don't Say

• 这个设计很俊。(俊 describes people, not objects — for a good design, use 精美, 漂亮, or 出色)

Origin & History

俊 = 亻 (person) + 夋 (phonetic, also suggesting excellence). Originally meant talented or outstanding, extended to describe handsome appearance.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal