慎重

• Pinyin: shèn zhòng
• Hanzi breakdown: 慎 = 忄(heart) + 真 (true, genuine — true to one's heart, careful); 重 = person carrying load (heavy, serious)

Meaning

Cautious; prudent; careful and deliberate; acting with due care and consideration.

Describes an attitude or approach that prioritises thoroughness and avoidance of rash action. Applied to decisions, statements, policies, and personnel appointments. 态度慎重 (cautious attitude) and 慎重考虑 (consider carefully) are common collocations.

Examples

1. 这笔投资风险较大，董事会建议大家慎重决策，不要轻举妄动。 This investment carries significant risk, so the board advises everyone to make a cautious decision and not act rashly.
2. 他说话一向慎重，从不轻易发表对别人的评价。 He has always been careful with his words and never offers evaluations of others lightly.
3. 在外交场合，代表团对每一个措辞都保持高度慎重的态度。 In diplomatic settings, the delegation maintains an extremely cautious attitude toward every word and phrase.

Usage Guide

Context: business, diplomacy, law, everyday advice

Tone: serious

Do Say

• 签署任何合同之前，请务必慎重阅读每一条款，有不明之处应及时咨询律师。(Before signing any contract, be sure to read every clause carefully; consult a lawyer promptly if anything is unclear.)
• 面对舆论的压力，市长表示将慎重研究相关建议，避免草率决策。(Facing public pressure, the mayor stated that relevant proposals would be carefully studied to avoid hasty decisions.)

Don't Say

• 慎重 to mean overly hesitant or cowardly — it specifically means exercising appropriate care; use 犹豫不决 for indecisiveness

Origin & History

慎 (cautious, careful) + 重 (heavy, serious, important)

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal