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March 24, 2026
赏(賞)shǎng(shang3)
The character 赏 (shǎng) primarily means to bestow a reward or grant appreciation, often in contexts where a higher authority gives recognition to an inferior. It can also refer to the act of appreciating beauty, making it versatile in both formal and informal situations. This character is frequently used in discussions about rewards and recognition in various contexts, such as workplaces or social settings.
Strokes12Radical贝Frequency#9441DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, 赏 is often associated with the traditional practice of rewarding loyalty and hard work, especially in workplaces or educational environments. The concept of bestowing rewards is deeply ingrained in societal values, emphasizing respect for hierarchy.
Memory Tip
Imagine a king bestowing a reward (赏) upon a loyal knight. The character has a radical that resembles a hand giving a gift, representing the act of giving or appreciating. Visualize the king's hand reaching out to grant a reward, helping you remember both the meaning and the pronunciation (shǎng).
Meanings of 赏
shǎng(shang3)
1to bestow (a reward)
2to give (to an inferior)
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
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About 赏
赏Simplified
賞Traditional
12Strokes
贝Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#9441Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L5IntermediateTOCFLL4HSKKL2CEFRB1
Podcast: 赏
Podcast: 赏
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AI Study Notes for 赏
Quick Contrast
赏 (shǎng) vs 奖 (jiǎng) — use 赏 when emphasizing appreciation or recognition, while 奖 specifically refers to a prize or award.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a king bestowing a reward (赏) upon a loyal knight. The character has a radical that resembles a hand giving a gift, representing the act of giving or appreciating. Visualize the king's hand reaching out to grant a reward, helping you remember both the meaning and the pronunciation (shǎng).
Usage Notes
Be cautious not to confuse 赏 with similar characters that involve giving or rewarding, as the nuances can differ. It is often used in formal situations, such as award ceremonies, but can also appear in casual contexts when appreciating art or beauty. Pay attention to the tone; using the wrong tone can change the meaning entirely.
HSK Study Tips
Although not part of the official HSK vocabulary list, 赏 connects well to other words related to giving and appreciation at higher levels. Focus on its usage in various contexts, especially when discussing rewards and recognition in both personal and professional settings.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, 赏 is often associated with the traditional practice of rewarding loyalty and hard work, especially in workplaces or educational environments. The concept of bestowing rewards is deeply ingrained in societal values, emphasizing respect for hierarchy.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mix up 赏 with 送 (sòng), which means 'to give' without the reward aspect. For example, using '我送你奖金' (I give you a bonus) instead of '我赏你奖金' (I award you a bonus) changes the meaning significantly.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 赏
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Grammar Patterns of 赏
赏 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 6 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The patterns below break down its most common sentence frames, with example sentences and practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) for each one.
William was a man of discernment, with an eye for quality.
4
音乐鉴赏力差的人怎么会有那么多?
yīn lè jiàn shǎng lì chà de rén zěn mó huì yǒu nà mó duō?
How could so many people have such bad taste in music?
5
安东尼奥对食品赏心悦目这一方面的热情非常有感染性。
ān dōng ní ào duì shí pǐn shǎng xīn yuè mù zhè yī fāng miàn de rè qíng fēi cháng yǒu gǎn rǎn xìng。
Antonio has a contagious enthusiasm for the beautiful aspect of food.
6
我们认为被称作“保守分子”是对我们的一种赞赏。
wǒ mén rèn wéi bèi chēng zuò“ “ bǎo shǒu fēn” zǐ ” shì duì wǒ mén de yī zhǒng。
We consider it a compliment to be called "conservative"
7
他在盘问几位部长时表现出的问案技巧为他赢得了赞赏。
tā zài pán wèn jī wèi bù cháng shí biǎo xiàn chū de wèn àn jì qiǎo wéi tā yíng dé le zàn shǎng。
He won admiration for his forensic skills in cross-examining ministers.
8
哈珀终于赏脸开了口。
hā pò zhōng yú shǎng liǎn kāi le kǒu。
At last, Harper deigned to speak.
9
在那家饭店用餐能欣赏到湖边景色，而且那里饭菜也是美味佳肴。
zài nà jiā fàn diàn yòng cān néng xīn shǎng dào hú biān jǐng sè， ， ér qiě nà lǐ fàn cài yě shì měi wèi jiā。
The dining room has lakeside views and offers excellent cuisine.
10
欣赏优秀的高桅横帆船摄影作品是种乐趣。
xīn shǎng yōu xiù de gāo wéi héng fān chuán shè yǐng zuò pǐn shì zhǒng lè qù。
A well-executed shot of a tall ship is a joy to behold.
Cultural Notes for 赏
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, 赏 is often associated with the traditional practice of rewarding loyalty and hard work, especially in workplaces or educational environments. The concept of bestowing rewards is deeply ingrained in societal values, emphasizing respect for hierarchy.
Word Family of 赏
Words Containing This Character20
欣赏xīnshǎngto enjoy欣賞
赏shǎngto hand down賞
观赏guānshǎngornamental觀賞
赞赏zànshǎngto admire讚賞
奖赏jiǎngshǎngreward獎賞
悬赏bounty懸賞
赏识to appreciate賞識
赏心悦目pleasing賞心悅目
鉴赏jiànshǎngto appreciate鑑賞
赏脸(polite) do me the honor賞臉
赏赐to bestow賞賜
赏析understanding and enjoying (a work of art)賞析
赏光to show up賞光
赏月to admire the full moon賞月
犒赏reward犒賞
赏钱tip賞錢
雅俗共赏can be enjoyed by scholars and lay-people alike (idiom)雅俗共賞
孤芳自赏self-love孤芳自賞
鉴赏家connoisseur鑒賞家
赏罚reward and punishment賞罰
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 欣赏 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 赏
You can use 赏 in a sentence like, '老板赏我奖金' (The boss awarded me a bonus).
Yes, 赏 can be used in everyday conversations, especially when discussing art or expressing appreciation.
赏 specifically implies giving a reward or recognition, while 给 simply means 'to give' without the connotation of reward.
