Being 'jūjǐn' means acting reserved and overly cautious, often due to shyness or nervousness in social situations.
Word in 30 Seconds
- Reserved and overly cautious behavior.
- Stems from shyness, nervousness, or insecurity.
- Manifests as unnatural or stiff in social settings.
Overview
“拘谨”是一个形容词，用来描述人的性格或行为特点，指一个人在社交场合或与人交往时，由于缺乏自信、内心紧张、害羞或害怕出错，而表现出的不自然、放不开、过于小心翼翼的状态。这种状态往往伴随着言行上的保守和克制。
“拘谨”通常用来形容人的性格、态度或行为。它可以直接用来形容人（例如：他这个人很拘谨），也可以用来形容人的状态（例如：他显得有些拘谨），或者形容人的某种表现（例如：他的回答有些拘谨）。它常常与社交场合、与人交往、表达自己等情境相关。
这个词常用于描述初次见面、重要场合发言、面对权威人物、或者在不熟悉的环境中时的表现。例如，一个刚入职场的年轻人可能会在与老板的第一次谈话中显得拘谨；一个内向害羞的人在公开演讲时也可能表现得拘谨。
“保守”更侧重于思想观念、生活方式或政策上的不求变通，倾向于维持现状，有时也指不愿意接受新事物。而“拘谨”则更侧重于行为举止上的不自然、放不开。
“内向”描述的是一个人的性格特点，指其精力更多地指向内心世界，不善于或不喜欢与外界过多交流。虽然内向的人可能容易表现得拘谨，但拘谨更多是一种行为状态，不一定完全等同于内向。
“腼腆”形容害羞、不好意思，尤其是在与人交往或被关注时。它比“拘谨”更侧重于害羞的情绪，而“拘谨”则包含了因害羞、紧张等原因导致的行为上的不自然和放不开。
Examples
他第一次来我家，显得有些拘谨，不太敢随意走动。
everydayIt was his first time at my place, and he seemed a bit reserved, not daring to move around freely.
在庄重的仪式上，他保持着一贯的拘谨，一言一行都十分得体。
formalDuring the solemn ceremony, he maintained his usual reserve, with every word and action being very proper.
别那么拘谨，大家都是朋友，随便点！
informalDon't be so stiff, we're all friends here, just relax!
对于公开场合的演讲，他总是感到一丝拘谨，需要时间来调整状态。
academicHe always feels a touch of constraint when it comes to public speaking, needing time to adjust his state.
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
别拘谨
Don't be reserved / Relax
显得拘谨
appear reserved
不拘小节
carefree and easy-going (antonym)
Often Confused With
'Bǎoshǒu' (conservative) refers more to ideas, beliefs, or a reluctance to change or embrace new things. 'Jūjǐn' (reserved) describes behavior and demeanor, particularly a lack of ease or naturalness in social situations.
'Nèixiàng' (introverted) describes a personality type focused inward. While introverts might exhibit 'jūjǐn' behavior, 'jūjǐn' is a specific manifestation of discomfort or awkwardness, not the entire personality.
Grammar Patterns
How to Use It
Usage Notes
The term 'jūjǐn' describes a state of being reserved, stiff, or overly cautious, often due to nervousness or shyness. It is typically applied to a person's demeanor or behavior in social contexts. While sometimes implying a lack of confidence, it can occasionally be interpreted as a sign of respect or formality, depending on the situation.
Common Mistakes
Learners might confuse 'jūjǐn' with general shyness ('hàixiū') or introversion ('nèixiàng'). While related, 'jūjǐn' specifically points to the resulting awkward or unnatural behavior. Using it to describe someone who is simply quiet might be inaccurate; the key is the lack of ease and natural flow.
Tips
Be Natural, Be Confident
To avoid seeming 'jūjǐn', practice being more relaxed and authentic in your interactions. Confidence often leads to more natural behavior.
Don't Confuse with Politeness
While some initial reservation can be seen as politeness, excessive 'jūjǐn' can hinder communication and create distance.
Cultural Nuances Matter
In some East Asian cultures, a degree of reserve or 'jūjǐn' might be initially expected or valued, especially in formal settings or when meeting elders.
Word Origin
The character 拘 (jū) means 'to restrain' or 'to hold back,' while 谨 (jǐn) means 'cautious' or 'prudent.' Together, 'jūjǐn' literally suggests being held back and acting with excessive caution.
Cultural Context
In Chinese culture, especially when interacting with elders or in formal settings, a certain degree of reserve might be seen as polite. However, excessive 'jūjǐn' can hinder genuine connection and might be perceived negatively as being aloof or lacking confidence.
Memory Tip
Imagine someone 'jūjǐn' as being 'tied up' (拘) inside, making them feel awkward and stiff (谨). They are 'bound' by their nerves.
Frequently Asked Questions
4 questions“害羞”是一种情绪，指感到难为情或不好意思。“拘谨”是一种行为状态，指由于害羞、紧张或其他原因导致的不自然、放不开。害羞是拘谨的常见原因之一，但拘谨不完全等于害羞。
“拘谨”通常带有一定的负面含义，因为它描述的是一种不够自然、大方的状态。但在某些特定场合，如需要保持庄重或表达谦逊时，适度的拘谨可能被理解为一种礼貌。
克服拘谨需要增加自信心，多进行社交练习，尝试在轻松的环境中表达自己，并逐渐适应不同的社交场景。了解拘谨的原因，比如对他人评价的过度担忧，也有助于放松心态。
“拘谨”通常用来形容人或人的行为、态度，很少用来形容物品。形容物品时，我们可能会用“朴素”、“简单”等词。
Test Yourself
面对新上司的提问，他显得有些______，回答得吞吞吐吐。
根据语境，回答“吞吞吐吐”表明此人行为不自然、放不开，符合“拘谨”的含义。
下列哪种情况最能体现“拘谨”？
选项b描述了在正式场合下因紧张或不适而表现出的不自然和小心翼翼，这正是“拘谨”的典型表现。
请将以下词语组成一个通顺的句子：他，第一次，有点，见，长辈，拘谨
选项b逻辑清晰，符合中文表达习惯，描述了在特定情境下人物的状态。
Score: /3
Summary
Being 'jūjǐn' means acting reserved and overly cautious, often due to shyness or nervousness in social situations.
- Reserved and overly cautious behavior.
- Stems from shyness, nervousness, or insecurity.
- Manifests as unnatural or stiff in social settings.
Be Natural, Be Confident
To avoid seeming 'jūjǐn', practice being more relaxed and authentic in your interactions. Confidence often leads to more natural behavior.
Don't Confuse with Politeness
While some initial reservation can be seen as politeness, excessive 'jūjǐn' can hinder communication and create distance.
Cultural Nuances Matter
In some East Asian cultures, a degree of reserve or 'jūjǐn' might be initially expected or valued, especially in formal settings or when meeting elders.
Examples
4 of 4他第一次来我家，显得有些拘谨，不太敢随意走动。
It was his first time at my place, and he seemed a bit reserved, not daring to move around freely.
在庄重的仪式上，他保持着一贯的拘谨，一言一行都十分得体。
During the solemn ceremony, he maintained his usual reserve, with every word and action being very proper.
别那么拘谨，大家都是朋友，随便点！
Don't be so stiff, we're all friends here, just relax!
对于公开场合的演讲，他总是感到一丝拘谨，需要时间来调整状态。
He always feels a touch of constraint when it comes to public speaking, needing time to adjust his state.
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