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颂 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
颂sòngodev, 10 strokes, radical 页, rank #19751, Very Hard
颂sòngeulogyv, 10 strokes, radical 页, rank #19751, Very Hard
颂sòngto praise in writingv, 10 strokes, radical 页, rank #19751, Very Hard
颂sòngto wish (in letters)v, 10 strokes, radical 页, rank #19751, Very Hard
颂sòngto laud, to acclaim; ode, hymnv, 10 strokes, radical 页, rank #19751, Very Hard
sòng(song4)song T4
  1. 1ode
  2. 2eulogy
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March 24, 2026

颂(頌)sòng(song4)

The character 颂 (sòng) primarily means to praise or laud someone or something in writing, often in the form of an ode or eulogy. It is commonly used in literary contexts, such as poetry or formal speeches, where individuals express admiration or honor. The nuance of 颂 carries a formal tone, making it suitable for commemorative events or artistic expressions.

Strokes10Radical页Frequency#19751DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, 颂 is often associated with traditional poetry and is used during significant celebrations or memorials, where individuals seek to honor ancestors or noteworthy figures through written verses.

Memory Tip

Imagine a grand celebration where a poet stands on a stage, holding a scroll (the character's top part) and passionately reciting praises (the lower part resembles a mouth speaking) to the audience. The sound 'sòng' can be remembered as the sound of applause echoing for the praises being sung aloud.

Meanings of 颂

sòng(song4)
1ode
2eulogy
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 颂 means.

About 颂

颂Simplified
頌Traditional
10Strokes
页Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#19751Frequency Rank

Podcast: 颂

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Podcast: 颂

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AI Study Notes for 颂

Quick Contrast

歌 (gē) — use 颂 for formal praise or literary contexts, while 歌 is more general for singing or songs.

Usage Notes

While 颂 is often used in formal contexts, learners should be cautious not to confuse it with more casual words for praise, such as 赞 (zàn). It is typically used in literary or ceremonial situations. Common collocations include 颂扬 (sòngyáng) meaning to praise or acclaim, and 颂歌 (sònggē) referring to an anthem or hymn.

HSK Study Tips

Although 颂 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it connects with words related to literature and expression, such as 诗 (shī, poem) and 文 (wén, culture). Focus on understanding its formal usage and how it can enhance your vocabulary in artistic or ceremonial contexts.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 颂 with 赞 (zàn) and use it in informal contexts, leading to awkward phrases like 颂你 (sòng nǐ) instead of the appropriate 赞你 (zàn nǐ). Always remember that 颂 is meant for formal praise.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 颂

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Etymology of 颂

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Explanation

Phonosemantic compound. 页 represents the meaning and 公 represents the sound. Simplified form of 頌.

Memory Hint

page

Semantic (meaning)页
+
Phonetic (sound)公
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

颂 = 页 + 公. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 颂

IDS Structure⿰公页
颂Full Character
=
公gong1
left
页ye4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 颂?

How to say ode in Chinese

“ode” in Chinese is颂sòng

The character 颂 (sòng) primarily means to praise or laud someone or something in writing, often in the form of an ode or eulogy. It is commonly used in literary contexts, such as poetry or formal speeches, where individuals express admiration or honor. The nuance of 颂 carries a formal tone, making it suitable for commemorative events or artistic expressions.

When to use 颂

While 颂 is often used in formal contexts, learners should be cautious not to confuse it with more casual words for praise, such as 赞 (zàn). It is typically used in literary or ceremonial situations. Common collocations include 颂扬 (sòngyáng) meaning to praise or acclaim, and 颂歌 (sònggē) referring to an anthem or hymn.

颂 or something close to it

歌 (gē) — use 颂 for formal praise or literary contexts, while 歌 is more general for singing or songs.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 颂 with 赞 (zàn) and use it in informal contexts, leading to awkward phrases like 颂你 (sòng nǐ) instead of the appropriate 赞你 (zàn nǐ). Always remember that 颂 is meant for formal praise.

Write 颂

颂

Practice writing 颂 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Grammar Patterns of 颂

颂 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 5 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 2

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

这不是在开追悼会,而是在____扬他的一生。

This was not a memorial service but a celebration of his life.

Example Sentences for 颂 (2)

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1
这不是在开追悼会,而是在颂扬他的一生。

zhè bù shì zài kāi zhuī dào huì, , ér shì zài sòng yáng tā de yī。

This was not a memorial service but a celebration of his life.
2
写于1890年的这首诗是对婚姻爱情的高度颂扬。

xiě yú1890 1890 nián de zhè shǒu shī shì duì hūn yīn ài qíng de gāo dù sòng。

The poem, which appeared in 1890, is an exaltation of married love.

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Word Family of 颂

Words Containing This Character11
颂sòngode頌
歌颂gēsòngto extol歌頌
颂歌carol頌歌
赞颂to bless讚頌
颂扬to eulogize頌揚
传颂to eulogize傳頌
称颂to praise稱頌
颂词eulogy頌詞
歌功颂德to sing sb's praises (mostly derogatory)歌功頌德
颂赞to praise頌贊
祝颂to express good wishes祝頌
Exercise 1 of 4

Words with 颂

What does 歌颂 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 颂

Common phrases include 颂扬 (sòngyáng, to praise) and 赞颂 (zànsòng, to eulogize).

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