How to Write 逊 (xùn) — Meaning “Inferior / To yield”

Imagine a grandson (孙) walking (辶) behind his elders to show respect – this picture of stepping back helps you remember 逊 means 'to yield' or 'be humble'. Alternatively, think of the phrase 'grandson steps aside' to link the components to the meaning.

Write the left radical 辶 first: dot, then a horizontal curve, then a final downward hook. Then write the right part 孙: first 子 (child, 3 strokes), then 小 (small, 3 strokes with a vertical and two dots). A common mistake is making the walk radical too wide or misaligning the two parts – keep 辶 narrow and centered.

Although all share the radical 辶, 逊 has 孙 (grandson) on the right, 迎 has 卬 (a person looking up), and 运 has 云 (cloud). Visually, 逊's right side looks like a child (子) and a small shape (小), while 迎 has a raised head and 运 has a cloud-like form. Their meanings also differ: 逊 is 'yield/inferior', 迎 is 'welcome', and 运 is 'transport'.

逊 appears in words like 谦逊 (humble, modest) and 逊色 (to pale in comparison), reflecting Chinese cultural values of humility. In historical contexts, 逊位 means to abdicate, as when an emperor yields the throne. Today you might hear the phrase '毫不逊色' to mean 'not at all inferior' when comparing things.

Common words containing 逊 include: 谦逊 (qiān xùn) — humble; modest; 逊色 (xùn sè) — To pale in comparison / Inferior; 逊位 (xùn wèi) — To abdicate.