尊敬 (zūn jìng) is a formal, respectful term meaning 'respect' or 'esteem', often used to express deep admiration for someone’s character, wisdom, or status. The character 尊 (zūn) means 'to honor' or 'to revere', while 敬 (jìng) conveys 'reverence', 'deference', or 'serious regard'. Together, they form a compound emphasizing sincere, socially appropriate respect—especially toward elders, teachers, leaders, or those with moral authority.

This word functions both as a noun ('showing respect') and as a verb ('to respect'). It appears frequently in written Chinese and formal speech, but less commonly in casual daily conversation, where simpler terms like 喜欢 (xǐ huan, 'like') or 看重 (kàn zhòng, 'value') may be preferred. 尊敬 carries a weight of humility and propriety, reflecting Confucian values of hierarchy and virtue-based reverence.