自謙

自謙

1. modest; self-deprecating; self-effacing

   • 常自謙無德，每郡國所上，輒抑而不當，故史官罕得記焉。 [Literary Chinese, trad.]
     常自谦无德，每郡国所上，辄抑而不当，故史官罕得记焉。 [Literary Chinese, simp.]

     From: The Book of the Later Han, circa 5^th century CE

     Cháng zìqiān wú dé, měi jùnguó suǒ shàng, zhé yì ér bùdāng, gù shǐguān hǎn dé jì yān. [Pinyin]

     (please add an English translation of this usage example)

   • 2015 March 8, Andrew Jacobs,Chris Buckley, “「習大大」再次燃起中國人的領袖崇拜之情 [Move Over Mao: Beloved ‘Papa Xi’ Awes China]”, in The New York Times‎^[1]:

     在毛澤東通過巧妙地將民粹主義、狂熱和恐懼結合起來統治中國之後，中國沒有哪位領導人能讓民眾如此公開地崇敬。鄧小平是一位令人欽佩的領導人，但他反對毛澤東時代的狂熱。自那以後，公開討好政治領袖就成了禁忌。習近平的前任胡錦濤更是讓沉悶的自謙成了一種美德。 [MSC, trad.]
     在毛泽东通过巧妙地将民粹主义、狂热和恐惧结合起来统治中国之后，中国没有哪位领导人能让民众如此公开地崇敬。邓小平是一位令人钦佩的领导人，但他反对毛泽东时代的狂热。自那以后，公开讨好政治领袖就成了禁忌。习近平的前任胡锦涛更是让沉闷的自谦成了一种美德。 [MSC, simp.]

     Zài Máo Zédōng tōngguò qiǎomiào dì jiāng míncuìzhǔyì, kuángrè hé kǒngjù jiéhé qǐlái tǒngzhì Zhōngguó zhī hòu, Zhōngguó méiyǒu nǎwèi lǐngdǎorén néng ràng mínzhòng rúcǐ gōngkāi dì chóngjìng. Dèng Xiǎopíng shì yīwèi lìngrén qīnpèi de lǐngdǎorén, dàn tā fǎnduì Máo Zédōng shídài de kuángrè. Zì nà yǐhòu, gōngkāi tǎohǎo zhèngzhì lǐngxiù jiù chéngle jìnjì. Xí Jìnpíng de qiánrèn Hú Jǐntāo gèng shì ràng chénmēn de zìqiān chéngle yīzhǒng měidé. [Pinyin]

     Not since Mao dominated the nation with his masterly blend of populism, fervor and fear has a Chinese leader commanded so much public awe. Deng Xiaoping was a formidable power, but he disavowed the mania of the Mao era. Since then, fawning public displays over political leaders have been taboo. Mr. Xi’s immediate predecessor, Hu Jintao, made a virtue of dull self-effacement.