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| 夸奖 [2025/08/13 20:43] – created xiaoer | 夸奖 [Unknown date] (current) – removed - external edit (Unknown date) 127.0.0.1 |
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| ====== kuājiǎng: 夸奖 - To Praise, To Compliment ====== | |
| ===== Quick Summary ===== | |
| * **Keywords:** kuajiang, kuājiǎng, 夸奖, praise in Chinese, compliment in Chinese, how to give a compliment in Chinese, Chinese encouragement, kuajiang vs biaoyang, 夸奖 vs 表扬, Chinese culture praise | |
| * **Summary:** Learn how to use **夸奖 (kuājiǎng)**, the essential Chinese verb for giving praise or a compliment. This guide covers its meaning, cultural significance, and practical usage in daily life, from the classroom to the office. Discover how **夸奖 (kuājiǎng)** is a powerful tool for encouragement and how to respond to it politely in a culturally appropriate way. | |
| ===== Core Meaning ===== | |
| * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** kuājiǎng | |
| * **Part of Speech:** Verb | |
| * **HSK Level:** HSK 4 | |
| * **Concise Definition:** To praise, compliment, or commend someone for their actions, abilities, or character. | |
| * **In a Nutshell:** **夸奖 (kuājiǎng)** is your go-to word for giving a sincere compliment in everyday Chinese. Think of it as the verbal equivalent of a pat on the back. It's often used by someone in a senior position (like a parent, teacher, or boss) to encourage someone, but it's also perfectly fine to use between friends. It carries a warm, positive feeling of approval and encouragement. | |
| ===== Character Breakdown ===== | |
| * **夸 (kuā):** This character means "to praise" or "to boast." It's composed of 大 (dà), meaning "big," over 亏 (kuī), which is a phonetic component. You can think of it as "making something sound big," which is the essence of praising or exaggerating. | |
| * **奖 (jiǎng):** This character means "to reward," "an award," or "to encourage." It pictures a general (将) leading and encouraging his troops (represented by 大). So, it's about giving encouragement, often through a reward. | |
| When you combine **夸 (kuā - to praise)** and **奖 (jiǎng - to reward/encourage)**, you get **夸奖 (kuājiǎng)**: a word that means "to praise" in a way that feels encouraging and rewarding. It's verbal encouragement. | |
| ===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== | |
| In Chinese culture, praise and humility are closely linked. Traditionally, direct and effusive praise, especially towards children, was sometimes avoided to cultivate **谦虚 (qiānxū) - modesty**. The belief was that too much praise could lead to arrogance. | |
| This contrasts with many Western cultures, where frequent and direct verbal affirmation is a common parenting and management tool. | |
| However, modern China is evolving. The value of positive reinforcement is now widely recognized, and **夸奖 (kuājiǎng)** is used frequently in schools and at home to build confidence. Despite this shift, the cultural script for receiving a compliment remains largely traditional. Instead of a simple "Thank you," a common and polite response is to deflect the praise with phrases like **“哪里哪里 (nǎli nǎli)”** (literally "where, where," meaning "You're too kind") or **“您过奖了 (nín guòjiǎng le)”** ("You flatter me"). This shows humility and respect for the person giving the compliment. | |
| ===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== | |
| **夸奖 (kuājiǎng)** is a versatile word used in many contexts, though it often carries a slight sense of a senior-to-junior dynamic. | |
| * **In Education:** This is a classic context. Teachers constantly **夸奖** students for good grades, correct answers, or good behavior. | |
| * //老师**夸奖**我中文说得好。// (Lǎoshī **kuājiǎng** wǒ Zhōngwén shuō de hǎo.) - The teacher praised my Chinese speaking skills. | |
| * **In the Workplace:** A manager might **夸奖** an employee for a well-done project or for showing initiative. It's a key tool for employee motivation. | |
| * //老板**夸奖**了我们的团队合作精神。// (Lǎobǎn **kuājiǎng** le wǒmen de tuánduì hézuò jīngshén.) - The boss praised our team spirit. | |
| * **In Parenting:** Parents use **夸奖** to praise their children for everything from tidying their room to being polite. | |
| * //孩子做对了事，要多**夸奖**他。// (Háizi zuò duì le shì, yào duō **kuājiǎng** tā.) - When a child does something right, you should praise them more. | |
| * **Between Peers:** While common, friends might also use more casual words like **赞 (zàn)** ("awesome" or "to like"). Using **夸奖** between friends can feel a little more formal or significant, like you are genuinely impressed by their achievement. | |
| ===== Example Sentences ===== | |
| * **Example 1:** | |
| * 老师当着全班同学的面**夸奖**了他。 | |
| * Pinyin: Lǎoshī dāngzhe quán bān tóngxué de miàn **kuājiǎng** le tā. | |
| * English: The teacher praised him in front of the whole class. | |
| * Analysis: This is a typical school scenario. The phrase //当着……的面 (dāngzhe... de miàn)// means "in the presence of..." or "in front of...", highlighting the public nature of the praise. | |
| * **Example 2:** | |
| * 谢谢您的**夸奖**，我会继续努力的。 | |
| * Pinyin: Xièxiè nín de **kuājiǎng**, wǒ huì jìxù nǔlì de. | |
| * English: Thank you for your compliment, I will continue to work hard. | |
| * Analysis: This is a modern, polite way to accept praise. It combines a direct "thank you" with a humble statement of future effort, balancing gratitude with modesty. | |
| * **Example 3:** | |
| * 你这个主意太棒了，我得好好**夸奖**你一下。 | |
| * Pinyin: Nǐ zhège zhǔyi tài bàng le, wǒ děi hǎohǎo **kuājiǎng** nǐ yīxià. | |
| * English: This idea of yours is brilliant, I really have to praise you for it. | |
| * Analysis: The phrase //一下 (yīxià)// softens the action, making the praise feel spontaneous and friendly. This is a great example of peer-to-peer praise. | |
| * **Example 4:** | |
| * 他只是客气客气，你别把他的**夸奖**太当真。 | |
| * Pinyin: Tā zhǐshì kèqì kèqì, nǐ bié bǎ tā de **kuājiǎng** tài dàngzhēn. | |
| * English: He's just being polite, don't take his praise too seriously. | |
| * Analysis: This sentence shows the other side of praise culture. Sometimes, compliments can be a form of politeness (客气 - kèqì) rather than a deep, sincere evaluation. | |
| * **Example 5:** | |
| * 我的老板很少**夸奖**人，所以得到他的肯定是件大事。 | |
| * Pinyin: Wǒ de lǎobǎn hěn shǎo **kuājiǎng** rén, suǒyǐ dédào tā de kěndìng shì jiàn dàshì. | |
| * English: My boss rarely praises people, so getting his approval is a big deal. | |
| * Analysis: This highlights that the value of a **夸奖** can depend on who it comes from. Praise from a demanding person is worth more. | |
| * **Example 6:** | |
| * A: 你做的菜真好吃！ (Nǐ zuò de cài zhēn hǎochī!) - The food you made is so delicious! | |
| * B: 哪里哪里，您过奖了。 (Nǎli nǎli, nín guòjiǎng le.) - You're too kind, you flatter me. | |
| * Analysis: This dialogue demonstrates the classic, humble response to receiving a **夸奖**. "哪里哪里" is a quintessential phrase for learners to master. | |
| * **Example 7:** | |
| * 孩子需要的是鼓励，而不是一味的**夸奖**。 | |
| * Pinyin: Háizi xūyào de shì gǔlì, ér bùshì yīwèi de **kuājiǎng**. | |
| * English: What children need is encouragement, not just blind praise. | |
| * Analysis: This sentence shows a more nuanced, modern view on parenting. It distinguishes between meaningful encouragement and empty praise. | |
| * **Example 8:** | |
| * 他因为工作出色受到了经理的**夸奖**。 | |
| * Pinyin: Tā yīnwèi gōngzuò chūsè shòudào le jīnglǐ de **kuājiǎng**. | |
| * English: He received praise from the manager because of his outstanding work. | |
| * Analysis: The structure //受到...的夸奖 (shòudào... de kuājiǎng)// means "to receive praise from...". It's a common passive construction. | |
| * **Example 9:** | |
| * 不要吝啬你的**夸奖**，它能给人带来力量。 | |
| * Pinyin: Bùyào lìnsè nǐ de **kuājiǎng**, tā néng gěi rén dàilái lìliàng. | |
| * English: Don't be stingy with your praise; it can give people strength. | |
| * Analysis: A great sentence that captures the positive, motivating power of **夸奖**. //吝啬 (lìnsè)// means "stingy" or "miserly". | |
| * **Example 10:** | |
| * 与其**夸奖**孩子聪明，不如**夸奖**他努力。 | |
| * Pinyin: Yǔqí **kuājiǎng** háizi cōngmíng, bùrú **kuājiǎng** tā nǔlì. | |
| * English: Rather than praising a child for being smart, it's better to praise him for being hardworking. | |
| * Analysis: This reflects the "growth mindset" philosophy, which is becoming popular in Chinese education. The structure //与其 A, 不如 B (yǔqí A, bùrú B)// means "it's better to do B than A". | |
| ===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== | |
| * **`夸奖 (kuājiǎng)` vs. `表扬 (biǎoyáng)`:** This is a key distinction. | |
| * **`夸奖`** is more general, can be informal, and is often personal (one person to another). | |
| * **`表扬 (biǎoyáng)`** is more formal and official. It's often public praise given by an institution (a school, a company) to commend someone, often as a role model. You get **表扬** at a company meeting; you get **夸奖** from your boss in a private conversation. | |
| * **`夸奖 (kuājiǎng)` vs. `赞美 (zànměi)`:** | |
| * **`赞美 (zànměi)`** is more formal, literary, or poetic. You would **`赞美`** the beauty of a sunset, a heroic deed, or a masterpiece of art. You would **`夸奖`** a student's improved handwriting. Using **`赞美`** for everyday things can sound overly dramatic. | |
| * **Common Mistake: Praising objects.** You don't **夸奖** an inanimate object. You praise the person associated with it. | |
| * **Incorrect:** 我夸奖这幅画。(Wǒ kuājiǎng zhè fú huà.) - I praise this painting. | |
| * **Correct:** 我**夸奖**他画得很好。(Wǒ **kuājiǎng** tā huà de hěn hǎo.) - I praised him for painting so well. | |
| * **Also Correct (using a different word):** 我**赞美**这幅画的美。(Wǒ zànměi zhè fú huà de měi.) - I praise the beauty of this painting. | |
| * **Common Mistake: Responding like a Westerner.** While saying "谢谢 (xièxie)" is acceptable, it can sometimes come across as a bit too direct or even slightly arrogant, depending on the context and the person you're speaking to. Using a humble deflection like **“哪里哪里”** or **“过奖了”** is often the safer, more culturally fluent choice, especially with elders or superiors. | |
| ===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== | |
| * [[表扬]] (biǎoyáng) - A more formal, public, or official form of praise, often from an organization. | |
| * [[称赞]] (chēngzàn) - A close synonym for praise or to acclaim; often used interchangeably with `夸奖`. | |
| * [[赞美]] (zànměi) - To praise in a more poetic or admiring way, often for beauty, art, or virtue. | |
| * [[鼓励]] (gǔlì) - To encourage. `夸奖` is a common method of `鼓励`. | |
| * [[过奖]] (guòjiǎng) - Literally "to over-praise." Used almost exclusively in the polite phrase **您过奖了 (nín guòjiǎng le)**, "You flatter me." | |
| * [[谦虚]] (qiānxū) - The cultural value of modesty and humility, which is the reason for politely deflecting praise. | |
| * [[哪里哪里]] (nǎli nǎli) - A classic, humble phrase to say when receiving a compliment, meaning "You're too kind." | |
| * [[赞]] (zàn) - To praise, or "like" (as in on social media). A very casual and popular term among friends. | |