noun / verb HSK 5
Traditional 關懷
guān huái
care · concern · to show care for · to be concerned about

Meaning

关怀 refers to sincere care, concern, or solicitude shown toward others, especially those who need support or attention. It implies a warm, compassionate attitude and often involves taking action to help or comfort someone. The word carries a gentle, nurturing quality and is frequently used in contexts involving emotional support, leadership care for subordinates, or concern for vulnerable people.

Usage

关怀 is commonly used in relatively formal or written contexts, though it appears in everyday speech when discussing genuine care or concern. It often appears with objects like 老人 (elderly), 员工 (employees), or 病人 (patients). Leaders use it when describing their responsibility toward people under their care. It's warmer and more emotionally invested than simple 关心.

Examples

  1. 01
    感谢领导对我们的关怀和支持。
    Gǎn xiè lǐng dǎo duì men de guān huái zhī chí.
    Thank you for the leadership's care and support for us.
  2. 02
    老师对学生的关怀让我很感动。
    Lǎo shī duì xué shēng de guān huái ràng hěn gǎn dòng.
    The teacher's care for the students deeply moved me.

Characters

Common collocations

  • 关怀备至
    guān huái bèi zhì
    to show the utmost care and concern
  • 倍感关怀
    bèi gǎn guān huái
    to feel deeply cared for
  • 领导的关怀
    lǐng dǎo de guān huái
    the leadership's care/concern
  • 人文关怀
    rén wén guān huái
    humanistic care

Antonyms

Origin

关 originally meant 'gate' or 'to close,' but extended to mean 'to concern.' 怀 means 'bosom' or 'to embrace,' suggesting holding something close to one's heart. Together they form a word meaning to hold concern close to one's heart.

Related