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送礼 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
送礼sònglǐto give a presentHSK 6, unknown, 14 strokes, rank #16227, Hard
sònglǐ(song4li3)song li T4
  1. 1to give a present
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March 24, 2026

送礼(送禮)sònglǐ(song4li3)

送礼 (sòng lǐ) means 'to give a present' or 'to offer a gift.' This phrase is commonly used in contexts such as birthdays, holidays, or when visiting someone's home. It carries the nuance of goodwill and social obligation in Chinese culture, where gift-giving is seen as a way to strengthen relationships.

Strokes14Frequency#16227DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, 送礼 is not just about the gift itself but also the thought and effort behind it. It is customary to give gifts during festivals like the Spring Festival (春节) and when visiting someone’s home, reflecting respect and friendship.

Memory Tip

Imagine you are 'sending' (送 - sòng) a 'gift' (礼 - lǐ) through the sky like a balloon. The '送' looks like a person with arms outstretched, giving away a colorful present, while '礼' resembles a wrapped gift. Picture the joy of receiving that gift to remember the phrase.

Meanings of 送礼

sònglǐ(song4li3)
1to give a present
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About 送礼

送礼Simplified
送禮Traditional
14Strokes
—Radical
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L6IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRC1

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Podcast: 送礼

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AI Study Notes for 送礼

Quick Contrast

馈赠 (kuìzèng) vs 赠送 (zèngsòng) — use 送礼 for informal or social occasions, while 馈赠 is more formal and implies a greater sense of obligation.

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 送礼 with other phrases like 送 (to send) or 礼物 (gift), as the latter is a noun. This phrase is informal and can be used in everyday conversations. Common collocations include 送礼的习惯 (the habit of giving gifts) and 送礼的场合 (occasions for gift-giving).

HSK Study Tips

While 送礼 is not an HSK vocabulary word, it contains common HSK components. Students at HSK 3 or 4 should focus on the individual characters 送 and 礼 to enhance their vocabulary related to social interactions and cultural practices.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 送礼 with simply giving something without the gift aspect, as in 'to give' (给). For example, saying '我送礼给他' (I give a gift to him) is incorrect; the correct expression is '我送礼物给他' (I give him a gift).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 送礼

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Component Characters

送sòngto deliver
HSK 29 strokes辶
View full entry
礼lǐgift
HSK 55 strokes礻
View full entry

How to say to give a present in Chinese

“to give a present” in Chinese is送礼sònglǐ

送礼 (sòng lǐ) means 'to give a present' or 'to offer a gift.' This phrase is commonly used in contexts such as birthdays, holidays, or when visiting someone's home. It carries the nuance of goodwill and social obligation in Chinese culture, where gift-giving is seen as a way to strengthen relationships.

When to use 送礼

Be careful not to confuse 送礼 with other phrases like 送 (to send) or 礼物 (gift), as the latter is a noun. This phrase is informal and can be used in everyday conversations. Common collocations include 送礼的习惯 (the habit of giving gifts) and 送礼的场合 (occasions for gift-giving).

送礼 or something close to it

馈赠 (kuìzèng) vs 赠送 (zèngsòng) — use 送礼 for informal or social occasions, while 馈赠 is more formal and implies a greater sense of obligation.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 送礼 with simply giving something without the gift aspect, as in 'to give' (给). For example, saying '我送礼给他' (I give a gift to him) is incorrect; the correct expression is '我送礼物给他' (I give him a gift).

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送
礼

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Cultural Notes for 送礼

🌏Cross-cultural Insight

In Western cultures, gift-giving often focuses on individual preference and personal taste, whereas in Chinese culture, it is more about the relationship and social context behind the gift.

Frequently Asked Questions about 送礼

Common gifts include fruits, teas, or specialty items that reflect the recipient's taste or needs.

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