佩服

• Pinyin: pèi fú
• Hanzi breakdown: 佩 = 亻 + 咅 + 巾 (person wearing something as a mark of respect); 服 = 月 + 卩 (body submitting, convinced)

Meaning

Admire; to feel deep respect or admiration for someone's ability, character, or achievements.

Expresses genuine, often heartfelt, admiration — stronger than general praise. Can be used sincerely or ironically. Frequently appears in formal appreciation of talent, and colloquially to express exasperated admiration at someone's audacity.

Examples

1. 我十分佩服她在逆境中坚持不懈的精神。 I really admire her persistence in the face of adversity.
2. 他虽然年轻，其深刻的见解让在座的前辈们都感到佩服。 Even though he's young, his deep insights impressed all the seniors present.
3. 你居然敢当面顶撞总裁，真是让我佩服。 You actually dared to talk back to the CEO to his face—I have to hand it to you.

Usage Guide

Context: admiration, social interaction, colloquial, formal praise

Tone: warm

Do Say

• 他在极端恶劣的条件下完成了这项研究，令所有同行都深感佩服。(He completed this research under extremely harsh conditions, earning the deep admiration of all his peers.)
• 我真的很佩服你，明知道胜算渺茫还敢坚持挑战，这种勇气难能可贵。(I genuinely admire you — knowing the odds were slim and still persisting in the challenge takes remarkable courage.)

Don't Say

• 我佩服这道菜 — use 赞 or 觉得很好 for praising food; 佩服 is reserved for people's qualities, talents, or courage, not inanimate things

Origin & History

佩 (wear, admire) + 服 (convince, submit) — to be so moved as to bow in admiration

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal