entries → 謙
TSUMUGU · TOCFL 2 (est.) · 字
謙 character · TOCFL 2 (est.)
謙 ＝ 言 ＋ 兼
ㄑㄧㄢ · qiān
adj — humble, modest, self-effacing

字源 FORM — what the parts do

言義speech — words kept low
兼聲gives the soundjiān — a hand holding two stalks, doubling up; drifted to qiān
Ijiān → qiān — initial moved off the donor
Speech (言) held back, set low — respectful, modest. 兼 carries the sound jiān, worn to qiān. The sense lands on the one who yields rather than presses: 謙虛 modest, 謙卑 humble, 謙讓 to defer.
意 · Meanings
(本義)謙、謙敬— humble, respectful常用
→謙虛、謙卑— modest, self-effacing常用
→謙讓— to defer, to yield
(本義) original meaning · → ⇒ each arrow = one more step of extension
關 · Related
兼jiānthe sound it carries — 兼 alone is to hold both, to combine; 謙 adds 言 for humble廉＝ 广 ＋ 兼liánthe 兼 it shares — 廉 sets 兼 under a shelter 广 for upright, frugal; 謙 sets it beside 言 for modest