Chinese Character: 奖
1. Character Basics
Radical: 大/dà radical (大字旁)
Stroke Count: 9
Stroke Order:
2. Pronunciation
Pinyin: jiǎng (third tone)
3. Meaning
prize, reward, award, praise
4. Common Words
- 奖励 (jiǎng lì) - reward, encouragement
- 奖品 (jiǎng pǐn) - prize, award
- 奖金 (jiǎng jīn) - bonus, prize money
- 奖状 (jiǎng zhuàng) - certificate of merit, award certificate
- 奖学金 (jiǎng xué jīn) - scholarship
- 夸奖 (kuā jiǎng) - to praise, to compliment
5. Grammar & Usage
奖 is primarily used as a noun meaning "prize" or "reward," or as a verb meaning "to reward" or "to praise." It is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts.
As a noun, 奖 can be combined with other characters to form compound nouns such as 奖励 (reward), 奖品 (prize), and 奖金 (bonus). These compounds are often used in educational, professional, and competitive settings.
As a verb, 奖 is often used in the structure 奖励某人 (jiǎng lì mǒu rén), which means "to reward someone." It can also be used in the structure 被奖励 (bèi jiǎng lì), which means "to be rewarded."
The character 奖 can also be part of idiomatic expressions, such as 奖罚分明 (jiǎng fá fēn míng), which means "to clearly distinguish between rewards and punishments," emphasizing fair treatment.
6. Cultural Background
In Chinese culture, the concept of 奖 (reward) has deep historical roots. Traditional Chinese society placed great emphasis on recognizing and rewarding virtuous behavior, academic achievements, and meritorious service.
The practice of giving awards and prizes is an integral part of Chinese educational systems. From primary schools to universities, students are often rewarded with certificates, trophies, and scholarships for their academic excellence, good behavior, or outstanding achievements in extracurricular activities.
In the workplace, many Chinese companies use various forms of 奖励 (rewards) to motivate employees, such as performance bonuses, recognition programs, and promotion opportunities. This reflects the cultural value of acknowledging and encouraging hard work and dedication.
The character 奖 is composed of 大 (dà, big) and 将 (jiàng, general). This combination is thought to symbolize the idea of a great leader (general) giving recognition or rewards to deserving individuals, highlighting the cultural importance of acknowledging achievement.
7. Example Sentence
句子 (jù zi): 他因为学习成绩优秀获得了奖学金。
Pronunciation (pīn yīn): Tā yīn wèi xué xí chéng jì yōu xiù huò dé le jiǎng xué jīn.
Translation (fān yì): He received a scholarship because of his excellent academic performance.
8. Memory Tips
The character 奖 is composed of two parts: 大 (dà, big) on the top and 将 (jiàng, general) on the bottom. The radical is 大 (大字旁).
To remember 奖, you can think of a big (大) general (将) giving out awards or prizes. This image connects the components of the character with its meaning of reward or recognition.
Another memory aid: Imagine that when someone does something big (大) and important, a general (将) would reward them with a 奖. This story helps link the visual elements of the character with its definition.