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奖 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
jiǎngprizeHSK 4, n, 9 strokes, radical 大, rank #1694, Medium
jiǎngawardHSK 4, n, 9 strokes, radical 大, rank #1694, Medium
jiǎngencouragementHSK 4, n, 9 strokes, radical 大, rank #1694, Medium
jiǎng>个[gè]HSK 4, n, 9 strokes, radical 大, rank #1694, Medium
jiǎngprize, reward; to awardHSK 4, n, 9 strokes, radical 大, rank #1694, Medium
jiǎng(jiang3) T3
  1. 1prize
  2. 2award
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
(獎)jiǎng(jiang3)

The character 奖 (jiǎng) primarily means 'prize' or 'award.' It is commonly used in contexts such as competitions, ceremonies, or any situation where recognition is given for achievements. Additionally, it can imply encouragement or reward for positive behavior.

Strokes9RadicalFrequency#1694DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, awards and prizes are often seen as significant markers of success and honor, particularly in education and professional fields. Events like the '全国优秀教师奖' (National Outstanding Teacher Award) highlight the importance placed on recognition.

Memory Tip

Imagine a giant golden trophy (奖) shining brightly, symbolizing victory and achievement. The character looks like a trophy being held up high, and the 'jiang' sounds like a joyful cheer when receiving an award.

Meanings of 奖

jiǎng(jiang3)
1prize
2award
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 奖

Simplified
Traditional
9Strokes
Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#1694Frequency Rank
Measure Word
HSK 3.0L4IntermediateTOCFLL4HSKKL2CEFRB1

Podcast: 奖

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AI Study Notes for 奖

Quick Contrast

奖励 (jiǎnglì) vs 奖赏 (jiǎngshǎng) — use 奖 (jiǎng) when referring specifically to the prize itself, whereas 奖励 (jiǎnglì) emphasizes the act of rewarding and 奖赏 (jiǎngshǎng) often refers to both the prize and the act of rewarding.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a giant golden trophy (奖) shining brightly, symbolizing victory and achievement. The character looks like a trophy being held up high, and the 'jiang' sounds like a joyful cheer when receiving an award.

Usage Notes

Be cautious with the tone; it is pronounced 'jiǎng' (third tone), which is different from 'jiàng' (fourth tone) meaning 'to lower.' Common collocations include '颁奖' (bānjiǎng - to award a prize) and '获得奖' (huòdé jiǎng - to receive an award). This term is typically used in both formal and informal contexts.

HSK Study Tips

Although not part of the official HSK levels, students should recognize this character due to its relevance in discussions about achievements and competitions. Focus on its usage in phrases related to awards and recognition.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, awards and prizes are often seen as significant markers of success and honor, particularly in education and professional fields. Events like the '全国优秀教师奖' (National Outstanding Teacher Award) highlight the importance placed on recognition.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 奖 (jiǎng) with 降 (jiàng), leading to incorrect meanings like 'to lower' instead of 'award.' Ensure the correct tone (jiǎng) is used in conversation.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 奖

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Etymology of 奖

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

Simplified form of 獎. Phonosemantic compound. 犬 represents the meaning and 將 represents the sound.

Memory Hint

big

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

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 奖?

Decomposition of 奖

IDS Structure⿱⿰丬夕大
Full Character
=
qiang2
left
xi1
right
da4
Exercise 1 of 3

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 奖?

Write 奖

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Grammar Patterns of 奖

奖 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). 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 4

Complete the Sentence

我参加中文水平考试是为了获得____学金去中国留学。

My taking the Chinese proficiency exam is in order to get a scholarship to study abroad in China.

Common Confusions with 奖

vs
jiāng

Similar shape and sound to '奖' (jiǎng), but different meanings.

Exercise 1 of 1

Spot the Difference

Which character means "prize"?

or

Example Sentences for 奖 (10)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
每个月的彩池奖金总额达1,350万英镑。

měi gè yuè de cǎi chí jiǎng jīn zǒng é dá1,350 1,350 wàn yīng。

Each month the total prize kitty is £5 million.
2
关键是奖学金有限。

guān jiàn shì jiǎng xué jīn yǒu xiàn。

The fact of the matter is that student finances are stretched.
3
他们完全是凭体育特长才获得了大学奖学金。

tā mén wán quán shì píng tǐ yù tè cháng cái huò dé le dà xué jiǎng xué jīn。

They have been given college scholarships purely on athletic ability.
4
这所学校因其针对该社区具有开创性的工作而获奖。

zhè suǒ xué xiào yīn qí zhēn duì gāi shè qū jù yǒu kāi chuàng xìng de gōng zuò ér huò jiǎng。

The school has won awards for its pioneering work with the community.
5
这一图书奖项是世界上同类奖项中分量最重的。

zhè yī tú shū jiǎng xiàng shì shì jiè shàng tóng lèi jiǎng xiàng zhōng fēn liáng zuì zhòng de。

This book prize is the biggest of its kind in the world.
6
我们把手探进一袋信件中抽取获奖者。

wǒ mén bǎ shǒu tàn jìn yī dài xìn jiàn zhōng chōu qǔ huò jiǎng zhě。

We delved through a sackful of letters to draw the winning name.
7
在世界体坛上,一枚奥运会金牌是最令人向往的奖项。

zài shì jiè tǐ tán shàng, , yī méi ào yùn huì jīn pái shì zuì líng rén xiàng wǎng de jiǎng。

An Olympic gold medal is the most sought-after prize in world sport.
8
他在诺贝尔委员会列出的获奖候选者名单之列.

tā zài nuò bèi ěr wěi yuán huì liè chū de huò jiǎng hòu xuǎn zhě míng dān zhī liè.

He had been on the Nobel Prize committee's list of possibles.
9
参加我们的竞赛就有机会轻松赢得1万英镑的奖金。

cān jiā wǒ mén de jìng sài jiù yǒu jī huì qīng sōng yíng dé1 1 wàn yīng bàng de jiǎng。

Enter our competition and you could walk away with £10,
10
想象一下中个5,000英镑的当地彩票头奖吧。

xiǎng xiàng yī xià zhōng gè5,000 5,000 yīng bàng de dāng dì cǎi piào tóu jiǎng。

Imagine winning the local lottery first prize of £5,

Cultural Notes for 奖

💡Did you know?

In Chinese culture, awards and prizes are often given during festivals and ceremonies to honor achievements in academics, sports, and arts. This reflects the cultural value placed on hard work and success.

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, awards and prizes are often seen as significant markers of success and honor, particularly in education and professional fields. Events like the '全国优秀教师奖' (National Outstanding Teacher Award) highlight the importance placed on recognition.

Word Family of 奖

Words Containing This Character20
jiǎngprize
奖励jiǎnglìto reward獎勵
奖金jiǎngjīnpremium獎金
奖品jiǎngpǐnaward獎品
大奖prize大獎
颁奖bānjiǎngto confer an award頒獎
奖学金jiǎngxuéjīnscholarship獎學金
中奖zhòngjiǎngto win a prize中獎
获奖huòjiǎngto win an award獲獎
奖杯jiǎngbēitrophy cup獎杯
抽奖chōujiǎnga lottery抽獎
夸奖kuājiǎngto praise誇獎
奖赏jiǎngshǎngreward獎賞
一等奖first prize一等獎
奖章medal獎章
奖牌jiǎngpáimedal (awarded as a prize)獎牌
诺贝尔奖Nobel Prize諾貝爾獎
奖项jiǎngxiàngaward獎項
获奖者prize-winner穫獎者
开奖to announce the winners in a lottery開獎
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 奖 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 奖

奖 (jiǎng) is the simplified Chinese character, while 獎 is the traditional form used in regions like Taiwan and Hong Kong. Both characters have the same meaning, referring to prizes and awards, but their usage depends on the writing system in use.