矜

A phono-semantic compound:

矛 (spear) — semantic component

今 (now) — phonetic component

Original imagery "a weapon held carefully in one’s hands", suggesting:

- cautious handling

- tense awareness

- heightened self-consciousness

From this concrete sense developed psychological meanings related to pride, restraint, and vulnerability.

In Korean and Japanese, it is primarily encountered in classical texts, idioms, and academic writing.

矜 is a high-register literary character. In modern Chinese, it survives mostly in fixed compounds.

The coexistence of “boast” and “pity” meanings reflects a classical worldview where heightened self-awareness could tilt toward either pride or compassion.

Related meanings:

誇 — to boast openly

驕 — arrogant, haughty

憐 — to pity, feel compassion

Semantic contrast:

謙 — modest; humble

恭 — respectful; reverent

In early literature, 矜 often described:

- emotional tension

- fragile dignity

- moral sensitivity

It could describe someone keenly aware of their own condition, whether proud or pitiable.

Confucian texts frequently criticize 矜 when it appears as arrogance:

《論語》 (The Analects)

「君子不矜不爭。」

“The noble person does not boast and does not contend.”

Here, 矜 is contrasted with humility and moral cultivation.