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B1 verb #3,500 most common 11 min read

佩服

pèifú Top 3,500

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips 佩服 in 30 Seconds

Explanation 佩服 in your Level:

At the A1 level, think of '佩服' (pèifú) as a very strong way to say 'You are great!' or 'I like how you do that.' Even though it is usually a B1 word, you can use it simply to show you are impressed. For example, if your friend speaks Chinese very well, you can say '我佩服你' (Wǒ pèifú nǐ). It’s like giving someone a big 'thumbs up' with your words. You use it when you see someone do something that looks difficult, and they do it easily. Just remember: it is for people and what they do, not for things like ice cream or toys. You don't 'admire' a toy with this word; you 'admire' the friend who can build a big tower with blocks.

At the A2 level, you can start using '佩服' (pèifú) to talk about specific skills. Instead of just saying 'I admire you,' you can say 'I admire your Chinese' (我佩服你的汉语). It is a step up from just 'liking' something. Use it when someone works hard or is very smart. You will often see it with the word '很' (hěn), meaning 'very.' For example, '我很佩服他' (I very much admire him). This word is great for making friends because it shows you are paying attention to their talents. It helps you move beyond basic sentences and express more complex feelings about the people around you.

At the B1 level, you should understand that '佩服' (pèifú) is about more than just skills; it's about character and spirit. You can use it to describe someone's courage (勇气 yǒngqì) or their patience (耐心 nàixīn). At this level, you should also learn the structure '令人佩服' (lìng rén pèifú), which means 'admirable' or 'makes one admire.' For example, '他的努力令人佩服' (His hard work is admirable). You are now using the word to comment on situations and qualities, not just direct praise. You should also be able to distinguish it from '羡慕' (xiànmù), which is used for things you want for yourself, like a new phone or a vacation.

At the B2 level, you can use '佩服' (pèifú) in more nuanced ways, including idiomatic expressions. A very common one is '佩服得五体投地' (pèifú de wǔtǐtóudì), which means to admire someone so much you would prostrate yourself on the ground. This adds flavor and intensity to your speech. You should also be comfortable using '佩服' in professional or semi-formal discussions to acknowledge a colleague's strategy or a leader's vision. You can also use it to express a 'grudging respect' for a rival by using '不得不佩服' (bùdébù pèifú - have no choice but to admire). This level requires understanding the social weight the word carries in Chinese culture.

At the C1 level, '佩服' (pèifú) becomes a tool for sophisticated social commentary. You can analyze why a particular action is '令人佩服' by connecting it to cultural values like '毅力' (perseverance) or '胸怀' (breadth of mind). You should be able to use it in written essays to evaluate historical figures or contemporary leaders. You can also use it in its more subtle, sometimes slightly ironic forms found in literature. At this level, you understand that '佩服' isn't just a feeling, but a social acknowledgment of merit that reinforces hierarchy or builds mutual respect between equals. You can use it to navigate complex social interactions where direct praise might be too blunt.

At the C2 level, your mastery of '佩服' (pèifú) involves a deep understanding of its etymological roots and its place in the broader lexicon of respect (alongside 敬佩, 钦佩, 膜拜, etc.). You can use it in high-level academic or literary contexts to discuss the 'admirable qualities' of a philosophical system or a complex artistic movement. You are aware of the subtle differences between '佩服' and '钦佩' (the latter being more formal and often used in written tributes). You can also detect and use the word in highly nuanced ways, such as in political discourse or high-stakes negotiations, where expressing admiration is a strategic move to build rapport or concede a point with dignity.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

佩服 in 30 Seconds

佩服 means to admire or respect someone deeply for their specific skills, character, or exceptional deeds in various social contexts.
It is a transitive verb, often modified by '很' or '非常', and is distinct from simple liking or materialistic envy.
Commonly used in the phrase '令人佩服' (admirable) and the idiom '五体投地' for extreme, heartfelt admiration of excellence.
Essential for expressing positive social feedback in Chinese culture, emphasizing humility and the recognition of others' unique merits and hard work.

The Chinese word 佩服 (pèifú) is a cornerstone of expressing genuine respect and admiration in Mandarin. At its core, it describes the feeling of being deeply impressed by someone's skills, character, determination, or intelligence. Unlike a simple 'like' or 'love,' 佩服 implies a level of acknowledgment of superiority or excellence in a specific area. When you say you 佩服 someone, you are essentially saying, 'I recognize your greatness, and I am humbled by it.' This word is incredibly versatile, used in both formal business settings and casual conversations among friends. It carries a sense of sincerity that makes it a powerful tool for social bonding in Chinese culture, where acknowledging the merits of others is a sign of good character and humility.

Core Concept: The term is composed of two characters: 佩 (pèi), which historically meant to wear something at the waist (like a jade ornament), and 服 (fú), which means to submit or obey. Together, they evoke the image of 'wearing' someone's virtues or 'submitting' to their excellence intellectually or emotionally.
Emotional Nuance: It is distinct from 羡慕 (xiànmù - envy/admiration of status). While you might 羡慕 someone's wealth, you 佩服 their hard work. It is an active intellectual recognition of merit rather than a passive desire for what they have.

我真的很佩服他的毅力。(Wǒ zhēn de hěn pèifú tā de yìlì.)
I really admire his perseverance.

In social dynamics, using 佩服 allows you to praise someone without sounding overly sycophantic. It focuses on the action or quality rather than just the person as a whole. For example, you can 佩服 a competitor's strategy even if you aren't friends with them. It bridges the gap between professional acknowledgment and personal sentiment. In modern digital slang, you might see people use it ironically or with extreme emphasis, such as '大写的佩服' (A big capital ADMIRATION), to show they are truly blown away by something someone did, often something daring or incredibly clever.

听了他的演讲，大家都很佩服他的见识。(Tīngle tā de yǎnjiǎng, dàjiā dōu hěn pèifú tā de jiànshì.)
After hearing his speech, everyone admired his insight.

Usage in Daily Life: You will hear this in schools ('I admire how you solved that math problem'), offices ('I admire your efficiency'), and even at home ('I admire how Mom manages everything'). It is a high-frequency word because it covers a broad spectrum of positive evaluation.

你竟然能坚持每天五点起床，我真佩服你。(Nǐ jìngrán néng jiānchí měitiān wǔ diǎn qǐchuáng, wǒ zhēn pèifú nǐ.)
I really admire that you can stick to waking up at five every day.

Using 佩服 (pèifú) correctly involves understanding its grammatical role as a transitive verb. Most commonly, it follows the structure [Subject] + (Degree Adverb) + 佩服 + [Object]. The object can be a person, a specific quality, or an action. Because it is an emotive verb, it is frequently modified by adverbs like 很 (hěn - very), 非常 (fēicháng - extremely), or 实在 (shízài - really/truly) to intensify the sentiment.

Direct Object: Persons: The most common use is directed at a person. '我佩服他' (I admire him). This is a general statement of respect for the individual's character or overall capability.
Direct Object: Qualities: You can specify what you admire: '我佩服他的勇气' (I admire his courage). This is more precise and often feels more sincere in professional contexts.

他那种不达目的不罢休的精神，令人佩服。(Tā nà zhǒng bù dá mùdì bù bàxiū de jīngshén, lìng rén pèifú.)
His spirit of not giving up until he reaches his goal is admirable.

Another common structure is '令人佩服' (lìng rén pèifú), which translates to 'makes people admire' or 'is admirable.' Here, '令人' acts as a causative, making the quality or action the subject. This is often used to describe heroic deeds or exceptional feats. For example, '他的慷慨令人佩服' (His generosity is admirable).

我对他解决问题的能力佩服得五体投地。(Wǒ duì tā jiějué wèntí de nénglì pèifú de wǔtǐtóudì.)
I admire his problem-solving ability to the point of prostration (extreme admiration).

The phrase '佩服得五体投地' (pèifú de wǔtǐtóudì) is a common idiom (chengyu) used as a complement of degree. '五体投地' literally means five parts of the body touching the ground (knees, hands, and forehead), a sign of ultimate respect. It adds a touch of dramatic flair to your admiration, often used when someone has done something truly spectacular or impossible for others.

Negative Forms: To express a lack of admiration, use '不佩服'. However, be careful; saying '我不佩服你' can sound quite confrontational or dismissive, suggesting that you don't find the person's actions worthy of respect.

虽然他赢了，但我并不佩服他的手段。(Suīrán tā yíngle, dàn wǒ bìng bù pèifú tā de shǒuduàn.)
Although he won, I don't admire his methods at all.

The word 佩服 (pèifú) is ubiquitous in Chinese society, echoing through various social strata and contexts. To understand its real-world application, one must look at the specific scenarios where Chinese speakers find it natural to express this sentiment. It is not just a 'book word'; it is a vital part of the linguistic fabric that maintains social harmony and acknowledges excellence.

In the Professional World: In offices across China, 佩服 is used to acknowledge a colleague's technical prowess or leadership. You might hear a manager say to a subordinate, '我很佩服你处理这个危机的方式' (I admire the way you handled this crisis). It serves as high-level positive reinforcement that goes beyond a simple 'good job.'
In Competitive Sports and Gaming: Post-match interviews often feature this word. An athlete might say they 佩服 their opponent’s stamina. In the world of e-sports, players often type '佩服' or the more casual '大写的一个服' in the chat to acknowledge a particularly skillful move by another player.

面对这么大的压力，你还能保持冷静，我真是佩服。(Miànduì zhème dà de yālì, nǐ hái néng bǎochí lěngjìng, wǒ zhēnshi pèifú.)
Facing such great pressure, you can still stay calm; I really admire that.

In educational settings, teachers use 佩服 to encourage students who show exceptional creativity or persistence. It is a way of treating the student with intellectual respect. Similarly, among students, it’s a common way to compliment a 'Xue Ba' (academic superstar) without appearing jealous. '佩服佩服' (repeated twice) is a common oral expression, often accompanied by a cupped-hand gesture in a joking or lighthearted way, to show someone has truly 'owned' a situation.

老王，你这修车的技术，我不佩服都不行！(Lǎo Wáng, nǐ zhè xiūchē de jìshù, wǒ bù pèifú dōu bùxíng!)
Old Wang, with your car repair skills, I have no choice but to admire you!

You will also find it in literature and historical dramas. Heroes often express 佩服 for their rivals' martial arts skills or strategic brilliance. This historical baggage gives the word a certain 'weight'—it’s the language of warriors and scholars. When you use it today, you are tapping into a long tradition of acknowledging merit regardless of whether someone is a friend or a foe.

News and Media: News reports often use '令人佩服' to describe the actions of everyday heroes, like someone saving a person from a fire or a scientist spending decades on a single cure. It frames the story around the virtue of the individual.

While 佩服 (pèifú) is straightforward, English speakers often stumble on its specific boundaries and nuances. The most frequent errors involve confusing it with other 'admiration' words or using it in contexts where the sentiment is too weak or too strong. Understanding these pitfalls will help you sound more like a native speaker and avoid awkward social misunderstandings.

Mistake 1: Confusing 佩服 with 羡慕 (xiànmù): This is the most common mistake. In English, 'I admire your house' is common. In Chinese, you cannot say '我佩服你的房子'. 佩服 is for qualities, skills, or character. For possessions or luck, use 羡慕 (envy/admire). You 佩服 the hard work that bought the house, but you 羡慕 the house itself.
Mistake 2: Confusing 佩服 with 喜欢 (xǐhuān): Sometimes learners use 佩服 to mean they like something. '我佩服这首歌' (I admire this song) sounds strange. You 欣赏 (appreciate) a song or 喜欢 (like) it. 佩服 requires a human element—the skill of the singer or the composition of the songwriter.

❌ 我很佩服你的新车。(I admire your new car.)
✅ 我很羡慕你有这么好的车。(I envy/admire that you have such a good car.)

Another mistake is using the passive voice. English speakers often want to say 'He is admired by everyone.' While you can say '他被大家佩服', it sounds stiff and unnatural. It is much better to say '大家都佩服他' (Everyone admires him) or '他很令人佩服' (He is very admirable). Chinese prefers active constructions for these types of psychological states.

❌ 我佩服他的外貌。(I admire his looks.)
✅ 我很欣赏他的长相。(I appreciate his looks.)

Finally, be careful with the intensity. 佩服 is a strong word. If someone just did something small like opening a door for you, saying '我佩服你' is sarcastic or weirdly over-the-top. Use it for things that actually require effort, talent, or moral strength. For small favors, a simple '谢谢' or '你真好' (you are so kind) is sufficient.

Sarcastic Usage: Native speakers sometimes use 佩服 sarcastically when someone does something incredibly stupid or bold in a bad way. '我真佩服你的脸皮' (I really admire the thickness of your skin/your gall). As a learner, avoid using it this way until you have a very high level of cultural fluency, as it can easily be misinterpreted.

To truly master 佩服 (pèifú), you must see how it sits among its synonyms. Chinese has a rich vocabulary for respect and admiration, each with a slightly different flavor. Choosing the right one depends on the level of formality and the specific nature of your admiration.

佩服 vs. 敬佩 (jìngpèi): 敬佩 is more formal and carries a sense of 'veneration.' While you can 佩服 a friend's gaming skills, you would 敬佩 a national hero or a great philosopher. 敬佩 implies the person is a role model or someone of high moral standing.
佩服 vs. 崇拜 (chóngbài): 崇拜 means 'to worship' or 'to idolize.' This is used for celebrities, gods, or superstars. It is much more emotional and less intellectual than 佩服. If you 崇拜 someone, you might have their poster on your wall; if you 佩服 someone, you respect their brain or their grit.

我非常敬佩那些在偏远地区支教的老师。(I deeply admire/respect those teachers who volunteer in remote areas.)

Another common alternative is 欣赏 (xīnshǎng). While 佩服 is about being impressed by excellence, 欣赏 is about 'appreciation.' You can 欣赏 someone's style, a piece of art, or a sunset. It is more about aesthetic or personal preference. If you 欣赏 a colleague, you like their way of working, but if you 佩服 them, you think they are objectively better than average at what they do.

现在的年轻人很崇拜那些网络红人。(Young people nowadays really idolize those internet celebrities.)

佩服 vs. 赞赏 (zànshǎng): 赞赏 is 'to praise' or 'to appreciate with approval.' It is often used by a superior toward an inferior. A boss 赞赏s an employee's report. 佩服, however, is more egalitarian; it can be used by anyone toward anyone, regardless of status.

In some contexts, you might use 服气 (fúqi). This is often used when a competition has ended. '我服了' or '我服气了' means 'I am convinced of your superiority; I accept defeat.' It lacks the poetic 'wearing' quality of 佩服 but is very common in spoken Chinese to show that you are truly impressed by someone's winning performance.

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

In ancient times, the type of jade ornaments (佩) you wore showed your rank. Admiring someone's '佩' was a literal way of acknowledging their high social and moral standing.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /peɪ fʊ/

US /peɪ fu/

The primary stress is on the first syllable 'pèi'.

Rhymes With

类 (lèi) 内 (nèi) 对 (duì) 退 (tuì) 福 (fú) 读 (dú) 图 (tú) 路 (lù)

Common Errors

Pronouncing 'pèi' with a flat tone (pēi).
Pronouncing 'fú' as 'fù' (falling tone) or 'fǔ' (dipping tone).
Mixing up the 'p' and 'b' sounds; ensure the 'p' is aspirated.
Forgetting the second tone on 'fú' and making it neutral.
Slurring the 'ei' sound in 'pèi' into a simple 'e'.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 3/5

The characters are moderately complex but the word is very common in texts.

Writing 4/5

The character '佩' has several strokes and '服' is also quite detailed; requires practice.

Speaking 2/5

The pronunciation is straightforward once tones are mastered.

Listening 2/5

Easy to recognize in context due to its distinct sound and frequent use.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

喜欢好人老师学习

Learn Next

敬佩崇拜欣赏羡慕毅力

Advanced

五体投地心悦诚服润物细无声高山仰止折服

Grammar to Know

Psychological Verbs with Degree Adverbs

我很佩服他。 (Verbs like 佩服, 喜欢, 讨厌 often take 很).

The '令人' (Lìng rén) Construction

他的表现令人佩服。 (Subject + 令人 + Verb/Adjective).

Complements of Degree with '得'

他佩服得不得了。 (Verb + 得 + Degree).

Active vs. Passive Voice Preference

大家都佩服他 (preferable to) 他被大家佩服。

Nominalization of Verbs as Objects

我佩服他的努力。 (Effort/努力 acts as a noun here).

Examples by Level

我佩服你。

I admire you.

Simple Subject + Verb + Object structure.

他很佩服老师。

He admires the teacher very much.

Use '很' to add emphasis.

你真佩服他吗？

Do you really admire him?

Question form using '吗'.

我不佩服他。

I don't admire him.

Negative form using '不'.

大家都佩服你。

Everyone admires you.

'大家' (everyone) as the subject.

佩服，佩服！

I admire you! (Respect!)

Duplication for emphasis in spoken Chinese.

我佩服你的汉语。

I admire your Chinese.

Direct object is a skill.

他是一个令人佩服的人。

He is an admirable person.

Using '令人' as an adjective phrase.

我很佩服他的努力。

I really admire his hard work.

Object is a quality (努力).

你最佩服谁？

Who do you admire the most?

Using '最' for superlative.

大家都佩服她的勇气。

Everyone admires her courage.

Abstract noun '勇气' as object.

我真佩服你能起得这么早。

I really admire that you can wake up so early.

Object is a clause/action.

他的技术让人佩服。

His skill is admirable.

'让人' is similar to '令人'.

我们都很佩服王经理。

We all admire Manager Wang.

Professional context.

我不禁佩服起他来。

I couldn't help but start admiring him.

Using '起...来' to indicate the start of a state.

佩服你的记性！

I admire your memory!

Exclamatory use.

他那种不怕困难的精神真让人佩服。

His spirit of not fearing difficulties is truly admirable.

Describing a specific 'spirit' (精神).

我佩服他处理问题的方式。

I admire the way he handles problems.

Object is '方式' (way/manner).

听完他的故事，我对他佩服不已。

After hearing his story, I admired him endlessly.

'不已' means 'without end' or 'extremely'.

他的博学多才令所有人佩服。

His vast knowledge and many talents made everyone admire him.

Using a four-character idiom (博学多才) as the reason for admiration.

你居然能说五种语言，我太佩服了。

You can actually speak five languages; I admire that so much.

'太...了' structure for extreme emphasis.

我佩服他的为人，而不是他的财富。

I admire his character, not his wealth.

Contrast between character and possessions.

面对挫折，他从未放弃，这很令人佩服。

Facing setbacks, he never gave up; this is very admirable.

Using a clause as the subject for '令人佩服'.

说实话，我挺佩服你的决定的。

To be honest, I quite admire your decision.

Using '挺' (quite) for a softer tone.

我对他的才华佩服得五体投地。

I admire his talent to the point of absolute prostration.

Idiom '五体投地' as a complement of degree.

虽然我们是对手，但我很佩服他的球技。

Although we are rivals, I really admire his ball skills.

Admiration in a competitive context.

他那种淡泊名利的心态确实令人佩服。

His attitude of being indifferent to fame and fortune is indeed admirable.

Using '确实' (indeed) for affirmation.

我不得不佩服他敏锐的洞察力。

I have to admire his keen insight.

'不得不' (have no choice but to) adds nuance.

他在关键时刻表现出的冷静令人深感佩服。

The calmness he showed at the critical moment is deeply admirable.

Using '深感' (deeply feel) to modify the admiration.

他的坚持最终换来了成功，真让人佩服。

His persistence finally led to success; it's truly admirable.

Cause and effect with admiration.

我佩服他敢于挑战权威的胆识。

I admire his courage and insight to challenge authority.

Complex object involving a verb phrase (挑战权威).

即便你不喜欢他，也得佩服他的专业精神。

Even if you don't like him, you have to admire his professionalism.

Using '即便...也' (even if... still).

他那种宠辱不惊的气度，实在令人由衷佩服。

His poise of being unmoved by either praise or blame is truly worthy of sincere admiration.

Using '由衷' (sincere/from the heart).

我深为他那种十年磨一剑的毅力所佩服。

I am deeply impressed by his perseverance of 'sharpening a sword for ten years'.

Formal passive-like structure '为...所...'.

读完他的论著，我对其严谨的治学态度佩服至极。

After reading his treatise, I admired his rigorous academic attitude to the extreme.

'至极' (to the extreme) as a suffix.

他在外交场合表现出的机智与幽默，令人由衷地佩服。

The wit and humor he displayed in diplomatic settings are sincerely admirable.

Describing multiple qualities.

我由衷佩服他能将这么复杂的理论讲得如此通俗易懂。

I sincerely admire how he can explain such complex theories in such a simple and easy-to-understand way.

Admiration for communication skills.

纵观他的一生，其坚韧不拔的意志确实令人钦佩（佩服）。

Looking at his whole life, his indomitable will is indeed admirable.

Using '纵观' (looking at the big picture).

我不佩服他的才华，但我佩服他那种敢为天下先的勇气。

I don't admire his talent, but I admire his courage to be the first in the world to do something.

Nuanced comparison using '敢为天下先'.

这种在逆境中依然保持乐观的精神，确实令人佩服得无话可说。

This spirit of remaining optimistic in adversity is indeed admirable beyond words.

'无话可说' (nothing left to say) used as an intensifier.

其作品中蕴含的深邃哲思，令后世学者无不佩服。

The profound philosophical thoughts contained in his works leave all later scholars in admiration.

Double negative '无不' for 'everyone'.

他以一人之力扭转乾坤，这种魄力实在令人佩服至深。

He turned the tide by his own effort alone; such boldness is truly deeply admirable.

Using '扭转乾坤' (turn the tide) and '至深' (extremely deep).

我虽不认同他的政见，但对其人格魅力却深感佩服。

Although I do not agree with his political views, I deeply admire his personal charisma.

Formal contrast using '虽...但...却'.

他在艺术创作上展现出的那种近乎偏执的完美主义，确实令人佩服。

The almost paranoid perfectionism he shows in artistic creation is indeed admirable.

Describing a complex psychological trait.

那种在纷繁世事中依然能守住初心的人，最是令人佩服。

Those who can still keep their original intention amidst the complications of the world are the most admirable.

Philosophical reflection on character.

对于他那种润物细无声的领导艺术，我深表佩服。

I deeply express my admiration for his leadership art that 'moistens things silently'.

Using the idiom '润物细无声' to describe subtle influence.

他能将各方利益平衡得如此巧妙，这份手腕确实令人佩服。

That he can balance the interests of all parties so skillfully, this 'wrist' (skill/tactic) is indeed admirable.

Metaphorical use of '手腕' (tactics).

其在学术研究上的那份孤诣独苦，实乃常人所不能及，令人佩服。

His solitary and painstaking efforts in academic research are truly beyond the reach of ordinary people and are admirable.

High-level literary style using '实乃' and '所不能及'.

Common Collocations

令人佩服

真心佩服

佩服不已

不得不佩服

实在佩服

由衷佩服

深感佩服

佩服万分

值得佩服

极其佩服

Common Phrases

佩服佩服

— A common oral expression to show respect. Often used lightheartedly.

你能喝这么多酒，佩服佩服！

大写的佩服

— Slang for 'total admiration.' Emphasizes how impressed one is.

你敢辞职去创业，我给你一个大写的佩服。

真叫人佩服

— Truly makes one admire. Used for emphasis in speech.

你这手字写得真叫人佩服。

佩服得要命

— Admire to death. Very colloquial and exaggerated.

我对他那过目不忘的本事佩服得要命。

不佩服不行

— Can't not admire. Suggests the excellence is undeniable.

他这脑瓜子，你不佩服不行。

深表佩服

— Deeply express admiration. Used in more formal settings.

对此，我深表佩服。

佩服之至

— Admire to the extreme. A very formal, literary way of saying 'I admire you so much.'

先生的高见，令我佩服之至。

口服心服

— To be convinced both in word and in heart. Related to being won over.

这次比赛我输得口服心服。

心生佩服

— To have feelings of admiration arise in one's heart.

看到他这样做，我不禁心生佩服。

由衷地佩服

— Sincerely admire. Emphasizes that the feeling is genuine.

我由衷地佩服她的乐观。

Often Confused With

佩服 vs 羡慕 (xiànmù)

羡慕 is for things people have (money, beauty, luck). 佩服 is for things people are or do (skills, character).

佩服 vs 欣赏 (xīnshǎng)

欣赏 is about appreciation or liking a style. 佩服 is about being impressed by excellence.

佩服 vs 崇拜 (chóngbài)

崇拜 is more extreme, like worshipping a star. 佩服 is more grounded in respect for merit.

Idioms & Expressions

"五体投地"

— Literally 'five parts of the body touching the ground.' Used to describe extreme admiration.

我对他的才华佩服得五体投地。

Common / Idiomatic

"心悦诚服"

— To feel a heartfelt and willing admiration/submission.

他的道理讲得透彻，大家听了都心悦诚服。

Formal

"甘拜下风"

— To willingly acknowledge someone's superiority and 'bow' to them.

论棋艺，我对他只能甘拜下风。

Colloquial

"肃然起敬"

— To suddenly feel a deep sense of respect and admiration.

听了他的英雄事迹，大家肃然起敬。

Formal

"高山仰止"

— To look up to someone as one would a high mountain. Extreme respect.

孔子的学问，真是令人高山仰止。

Literary

"叹为观止"

— To praise something as being as good as it can possibly get.

这场表演精彩绝伦，令人叹为观止。

Literary

"由衷之言"

— Words from the bottom of one's heart (often used when expressing 佩服).

我说佩服你，这绝对是由衷之言。

Neutral

"顶礼膜拜"

— To worship with the highest respect (can be used for excessive 佩服).

他对比利·希思极其崇拜，简直到了顶礼膜拜的地步。

Strong / Formal

"推崇备至"

— To hold someone in the highest esteem; to praise highly.

学术界对他的新发现推崇备至。

Academic

"名不虚传"

— To have a reputation that is well-deserved (often said when one finally sees why people 佩服 someone).

他的厨艺果然名不虚传，我真佩服。

Neutral

Easily Confused

佩服 vs 羡慕

Both translate to 'admire' in certain English contexts.

You 羡慕 a person's lifestyle; you 佩服 their hard work to get there.

我羡慕你的假期，但我佩服你的工作效率。

佩服 vs 喜欢

Both are positive feelings toward someone.

喜欢 is personal affection; 佩服 is intellectual/moral respect.

我不喜欢他，但我很佩服他的能力。

佩服 vs 尊重

Both involve high regard.

尊重 is about treating someone with dignity/honor; 佩服 is about being 'wowed' by them.

我们要尊重老人，但我也佩服那位老人的智慧。

佩服 vs 敬佩

Very similar meaning.

敬佩 is more formal and implies the person is a moral role model.

这位英雄的牺牲令人敬佩。

佩服 vs 感佩

Both involve admiration.

感佩 adds a layer of being 'moved' or 'touched' emotionally.

对他多年来的慈善行为，我深感佩服。

Sentence Patterns

我佩服 [Person]。

我佩服他。

我佩服 [Person] 的 [Quality]。

我佩服他的勇气。

[Something] 令人佩服。

他的努力令人佩服。

我真佩服 [Action/Clause]。

我真佩服你能坚持下去。

对 [Person/Thing] 佩服得五体投地。

我对他的才华佩服得五体投地。

不得不佩服 [Person]。

不得不佩服他的眼光。

由衷地佩服 [Person] 的 [Quality]。

我由衷地佩服他的胸怀。

[Person] 的 [Quality] 确实令人佩服至深。

他的专业精神确实令人佩服至深。

Word Family

Nouns

佩服感 (pèifú gǎn) - sense of admiration

Verbs

佩服 (pèifú) - to admire

Adjectives

令人佩服的 (lìng rén pèifú de) - admirable

敬佩

钦佩

折服

服气

佩带

How to Use It

frequency

Very high in both spoken and written Mandarin.

Common Mistakes

Using 佩服 for material objects. → 我羡慕你的新包。
You cannot 'admire' a bag using 佩服. Use 羡慕 or 喜欢.
Using it in the passive voice with '被'. → 大家都佩服他。
While '他被大家佩服' is grammatically possible, it is very rare and sounds unnatural.
Using it for romantic attraction. → 我很喜欢她。
佩服 is too clinical/intellectual for romance. Use 喜欢 or 迷恋.
Confusing 佩服 with 敬佩 in informal settings. → 我真佩服你的球技！
敬佩 is too heavy/formal for a casual game of basketball.
Using 佩服 for simple polite thanks. → 谢谢你的帮助。
If someone just holds the door, '我佩服你' sounds like you are mocking them.

Tips

Use with Adverbs

Always try to add an adverb like '很' or '非常' before 佩服 to make it sound more natural in speech.

Giving Face

Use 佩服 to give 'face' to others in social situations. It shows you are humble and observant.

Pair with Abstract Nouns

Combine it with nouns like 毅力 (perseverance), 勇气 (courage), and 智慧 (wisdom).

The 'Bùdébù' Hack

Use '不得不佩服' (have to admire) when something is so good you have no choice but to respect it.

Avoid for Possessions

Remember: 佩服 is for actions and character; 羡慕 is for things and luck.

令人 Structure

In written Chinese, '其...令人佩服' is a very elegant way to start a concluding sentence.

Internet Slang

Use '大写的佩服' on social media to show you are genuinely blown away by someone's post.

Building Rapport

Using 佩服 with a rival shows you are a 'junzi' (gentleman) who values merit over ego.

Listen for 'Fú'

The character '服' is the root of many related words like 服气, 折服, and 心服口服.

Visualizing the Bow

Associate 佩服 with the image of a respectful bow or the idiom '五体投地'.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'PAY' (pèi) respect to someone who 'FOOD' (fú) - actually, think of it as 'Paying' attention to someone's 'Full' potential. You 'Pay' for the 'Full' package of their skills.

Visual Association

Imagine someone wearing (佩) a medal of honor and everyone else bowing (服) to acknowledge their achievement.

Word Web

Respect Admiration Skill Character Convince Merit Grit Mastery

Challenge

Try to find one thing you admire about three different people today and use the sentence '我佩服你的...' to tell them.

Word Origin

The character 佩 (pèi) originally referred to ornaments worn at the waist, symbolizing a person's status and virtue. 服 (fú) originally meant clothes but evolved to mean to serve, to obey, or to be convinced. Together, they suggest a state where one 'wears' or carries someone else's virtues in their heart and is mentally won over by them.

Original meaning: To wear an ornament and submit to its significance; later, to mentally respect and follow.

Sino-Tibetan

Cultural Context

Avoid using it sarcastically unless you are very close with the person, as it can sound like you are mocking their effort.

English speakers often use 'respect' or 'admire' interchangeably. In Chinese, 佩服 is more about the specific 'wow' factor of a skill or trait.

Used frequently in the 'Romance of the Three Kingdoms' to describe strategic brilliance. Often used in CCTV's 'Touching China' (感动中国) awards to describe national heroes. A common trope in Hong Kong action movies when rivals acknowledge each other's skill.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Workplace

佩服您的效率
佩服您的领导力
令人佩服的专业精神
我佩服她的沟通能力

School/Learning

佩服他的记性
佩服老师的博学
我真佩服你的数学成绩
令人佩服的刻苦

Sports/Hobbies

佩服对手的技术
佩服他的毅力
我佩服你这种挑战精神
不得不佩服他的体力

Daily Compliments

佩服你的厨艺
佩服你的耐心
我佩服你这么乐观
佩服佩服！

News/Stories

令人佩服的英雄
佩服他的无私奉献
事迹令人佩服
深感佩服

Conversation Starters

"你最佩服的人是谁？为什么？"

"在工作中，你最佩服什么样的同事？"

"你有没有什么让人佩服的特长？"

"你佩服那些敢于冒险的人吗？"

"听到他的成功故事，你是不是也很佩服？"

Journal Prompts

写一写你最佩服的一个人，描述一下他/她的哪些品质让你感动。

描述一次你感到'佩服得五体投地'的经历。

如果你想让别人佩服你，你觉得你应该在哪些方面努力？

为什么在竞争中，佩服对手也是一种很重要的素质？

谈谈'佩服'和'羡慕'的区别，并举例说明。

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

Generally, no. You admire people or their qualities. To say you like an object, use 喜欢 or 欣赏. For example, say '我欣赏这件艺术品' instead of '我佩服这件艺术品'.

敬佩 is more formal and carries a sense of 'veneration.' You 佩服 a friend's skill, but you 敬佩 a national hero's sacrifice. 敬佩 is for higher moral ground.

It can be used sarcastically to mean someone is incredibly thick-skinned or bold in a bad way, e.g., '我真佩服你的厚脸皮' (I really admire your thick skin).

The most common way is to say '令人佩服' (lìng rén pèifú), which literally means 'makes people admire.'

It's not usually used for 'crushes.' It's more of an intellectual or character-based respect. Use 喜欢 or 迷恋 for romance.

In many contexts, yes. '服了' is a shorter, more colloquial version. However, '服了' can also mean 'I give up' in a frustrated sense.

It's better to say '我羡慕他很有钱.' You would only use 佩服 if you were talking about his skill in *making* that money.

Definitely '五体投地' (wǔ tǐ tóu dì). It's very common and understood by everyone.

Yes, it is very appropriate for acknowledging a colleague's good work, especially in phrases like '令人佩服' or '深表佩服'.

Not necessarily. It acknowledges excellence. Even a master can 佩服 a student's creativity without losing their own status.