kuājiǎng: 夸奖 - To Praise, To Compliment

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

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.

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 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”.

• `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.

• 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.