Meaning
忠诚 describes unwavering loyalty and faithfulness to a person, cause, country, or principle. It emphasizes steadfast dedication and trustworthiness, often in contexts requiring moral integrity. The term carries positive connotations and is used to describe both character traits and specific acts of devotion.
Usage
Commonly used in formal and semiformal contexts to describe personal character, political allegiance, or dedication in relationships and professional settings. Often appears in phrases like 忠诚于 (loyal to) someone or something. More formal than everyday expressions like 靠得住 (reliable).
Examples
- 01他对公司一直很忠诚，工作了二十多年。, .He has always been very loyal to the company, having worked there for over twenty years.
- 02忠诚是友谊最重要的基础。.Loyalty is the most important foundation of friendship.
Characters
Common collocations
- 忠诚于be loyal to
- 保持忠诚maintain loyalty
- 忠诚的朋友loyal friend
- 效忠to pledge allegiance
Antonyms
Origin
Both characters relate to heart and virtue. 忠 combines 中 (middle/center) with 心 (heart), suggesting centering one's heart. 诚 combines 言 (speech) with 成 (complete), indicating complete truthfulness.