受宠若惊
shòu chǒng ruò jīng
Feeling overwhelmed by favor · trad. 受寵若驚
Individuals feel overwhelmed by unexpected kindness or attention from others. It conveys a mix of pleasant surprise and humility when receiving more praise or favor than one feels they deserve.
What does 受宠若惊 (shòu chǒng ruò jīng) mean?
受宠若惊 (shòu chǒng ruò jīng) means "feeling overwhelmed by favor" in English. Word for word, it breaks down as "receive favor as if shocked."
Character by character
- 受 shòu receive
- 宠 chǒng favor
- 若 ruò as if
- 惊 jīng shocked
When to use it
Use this expression to politely acknowledge a compliment or special treatment that feels undeserved. It expresses sincere gratitude mixed with a sense of unworthiness or modesty, often in formal or semi-formal settings.
Example
大家对我都很好,我简直受宠若惊。
Dàjiā duì wǒ dōu hěn hǎo, wǒ jiǎnzhí shòu chǒng ruò jīng.
Everyone has been so kind to me, I'm truly flattered.
Pro tip: The 'shocked' part doesn't imply fear, but rather a profound sense of pleasant surprise and humility at receiving such unexpected kindness or high regard.
Related idioms
十全十美 · Absolute perfection实事求是 · Seeking truth from facts手忙脚乱 · Frantic hurried state
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