Source: Make Me a Hanzi.
虔 has 虍 tiger as both a sound and meaning part, and 文 a body with tattoo markings as a meaning part. It first meant tiger stripes. That grew to mean powerful or mighty, then to respect and revere, and finally sincere or pious. The sound link from 虍 is not obvious in Mandarin.
Sign in to add this word to your private lists.