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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
Choose the correct answer:
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.
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.
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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Phonosemantic compound. 贝 represents the meaning and 尚 represents the sound. Simplified form of 賞.
1The meaning half贝 carries the sense.
2The sound half尚 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawaymoney
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 赏? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 赏?
Decomposition of 赏
IDS Structure⿱尚贝
赏Full Character
=
尚Shang4
top
贝Bei4
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 赏?
How to say to bestow (a reward) in Chinese
“to bestow (a reward)” in Chinese is赏shǎng
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.
When to use 赏
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.
赏 or something close to it
赏 (shǎng) vs 奖 (jiǎng) — use 赏 when emphasizing appreciation or recognition, while 奖 specifically refers to a prize or award.
What learners get wrong
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.
Write 赏
赏
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Practice writing 赏 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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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.
