Chinese word

知足

Pronunciation

Pinyinzhī zú

Meaning

  • adjectivecontent

Example

在困难的时候，他依然知足。zài kùn nán de shí hòu tā yī rán zhī zú

Even in difficult times, he remains content.

Illustration for 知足 (content)

More examples

尽管收入不高，她仍然知足。jín guǎn shōu rù bù gāo tā réng rán zhī zú

Even though her income is not high, she remains content.

Core concept

A settled sense that what one has is enough, leaving no restless push for more.

Common phrases

  • 知足常乐zhī zú cháng lè

    contentment brings lasting happiness

  • 对现状知足duì xiàn zhuàng zhī zú

    be content with the current situation

  • 知足的人zhī zú de rén

    contented person

Similar words

满足mǎn zú: Feeling that one's needs or wishes have been fully met.
满意mǎn yì: Feeling pleased with a result or with how someone has acted.
安心ān xīn: Free from worry and able to remain calm and at ease.

Definition in Chinese

意识到自己所拥有的足够而感到心满意足，不追求过度的物质或地位。yì shí dào zì jǐ suǒ yōng yǒu de zú gòu ér gǎn dào xīn mǎn yì zú bù zhuī qiú guò dù de wù zhì huò dì wèi

Word origin

知 (zhī, "know") + 足 (zú, "enough") expresses recognizing that one's possessions and circumstances are sufficient.

Usage tips

  • In everyday conversation, this word usually describes a person's general outlook rather than satisfaction with one isolated event, so it suits descriptions of a way of living.

Other meanings

  • be satisfiedverb

Opposites

  • 贪心tān xīngreedyadjective

Related words

Word lists with this word