敬佩 (jìng pèi) is a verb meaning 'to respect and admire' — combining the ideas of reverence (敬) and admiration or esteem (佩). The character 敬 conveys deep respect, often with humility or formality, while 佩 originally meant 'to wear' (as in wearing a jade pendant as a symbol of virtue), and evolved to mean 'to admire greatly' or 'to look up to.' Together, 敬佩 expresses a warm, heartfelt admiration rooted in moral or personal excellence — not just liking someone, but honoring their character, achievements, or integrity.

This word is commonly used when speaking about people whose actions, wisdom, courage, or dedication inspire genuine esteem — such as teachers, scientists, parents, or public figures. It’s more formal and emotionally weighty than simple words like 喜欢 (like) or 欣赏 (appreciate), and it rarely appears in casual speech among peers unless expressing sincere, elevated admiration.