jiǎngpái: 奖牌 - Medal

• Keywords: jiangpai, jiǎngpái, 奖牌, Chinese word for medal, gold medal in Chinese, Olympic medal Chinese, award medal, prize medal, jin pai, yin pai, tong pai, how to say medal in Mandarin
• Summary: Learn the Chinese word for “medal,” 奖牌 (jiǎngpái). This comprehensive guide explains its meaning, cultural significance in China, and practical usage in everyday conversation. Discover the difference between a gold medal (金牌), a prize (奖品), and prize money (奖金), and see how this simple word connects to national pride and the Olympic spirit. Perfect for beginners, this entry includes character breakdowns and 10 practical example sentences to help you talk about winning and achievement in Mandarin Chinese.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): jiǎng pái
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 4
• Concise Definition: A medal awarded as a prize for winning a competition or for an honorable achievement.
• In a Nutshell: 奖牌 (jiǎngpái) is the go-to word for the kind of medal you receive for winning something. Think of the medals hung around athletes' necks at the Olympics—that's a perfect 奖牌. It's a tangible symbol of success, honor, and victory in competitive fields like sports, academics, or even work.

• 奖 (jiǎng): This character means “award,” “prize,” or “to reward.” It's composed of 将 (jiāng) on top, which can mean “general” or “leader,” and 大 (dà) at the bottom, meaning “big.” You can think of it as a “big reward” given by a person of authority or for a great accomplishment.
• 牌 (pái): This character means “plate,” “tablet,” “plaque,” or “card.” The radical on the left, 片 (piàn), means “a slice” or “a flat piece,” indicating the object's shape.
• When combined, 奖牌 (jiǎngpái) literally translates to “award plate,” which perfectly describes a medal—a flat, plate-like object given as an award.

In Chinese culture, a 奖牌 (jiǎngpái) is more than just a personal accomplishment; it's often a symbol of collective honor. This is most powerfully seen in international sports. When a Chinese athlete wins an Olympic gold medal (金牌 - jīnpái), it's celebrated as a victory for the entire nation, bringing immense “face” (面子 - miànzi) or social prestige to the country. This contrasts with the more individualistic focus in many Western cultures, where an athlete's victory is primarily their own. The government's heavy investment in sports programs is directly linked to this pursuit of national glory through 奖牌. The number of medals won is often seen as a direct indicator of the nation's strength and global standing. For an individual, winning a 奖牌 brings honor not only to themselves but also to their family, their hometown, and their coaches, reflecting the deep-seated value of collectivism.

奖牌 (jiǎngpái) is used frequently in modern contexts, especially in sports and education.

• In Sports: This is the most common use. People talk about the 奖牌 tally (奖牌榜 - jiǎngpái bǎng) during the Olympic Games (奥运会 - Àoyùnhuì) or Asian Games (亚运会 - Yàyùnhuì). You will almost always hear it specified by type:
  • 金牌 (jīnpái): Gold Medal
  • 银牌 (yínpái): Silver Medal
  • 铜牌 (tóngpái): Bronze Medal
• In Education and Work: A student might win a 奖牌 in a math competition (数学竞赛 - shùxué jìngsài) or a spelling bee. A company might award a 奖牌 to the “Employee of the Year” as a formal recognition of their contribution, though a trophy (奖杯 - jiǎngbēi) or certificate (证书 - zhèngshū) is also common.
• Figurative Usage: While less common than in English, you can sometimes use it figuratively to praise someone's extraordinary effort. For example, “You deserve a medal for your patience!”

• Example 1:
  • 她在奥运会上赢得了一枚金色的奖牌。
  • Pinyin: Tā zài Àoyùnhuì shàng yíngdéle yī méi jīnsè de jiǎngpái.
  • English: She won a gold medal at the Olympic Games.
  • Analysis: This is a classic, straightforward example. The measure word for a medal is 枚 (méi).
• Example 2:
  • 每个运动员的梦想都是获得一枚奖牌。
  • Pinyin: Měi ge yùndòngyuán de mèngxiǎng dōushì huòdé yī méi jiǎngpái.
  • English: The dream of every athlete is to receive a medal.
  • Analysis: 获得 (huòdé) is a formal verb for “to obtain” or “to acquire,” often used with awards and honors.
• Example 3:
  • 中国队在奖牌榜上排名第一。
  • Pinyin: Zhōngguó duì zài jiǎngpái bǎng shàng páimíng dì yī.
  • English: The Chinese team ranks first on the medal tally.
  • Analysis: This sentence introduces a related term, 奖牌榜 (jiǎngpái bǎng), which means “medal table” or “medal count list.”
• Example 4:
  • 我儿子在学校的游泳比赛中拿到了他的第一枚奖牌！
  • Pinyin: Wǒ érzi zài xuéxiào de yóuyǒng bǐsài zhōng nádàole tā de dì yī méi jiǎngpái!
  • English: My son got his first medal in the school's swimming competition!
  • Analysis: 拿到 (nádào) is a common, slightly more informal way to say “to get” or “to obtain.”
• Example 5:
  • 你觉得这枚奖牌的设计怎么样？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ juéde zhè méi jiǎngpái de shèjì zěnmeyàng?
  • English: What do you think of the design of this medal?
  • Analysis: A simple question asking for an opinion, showing how 奖牌 functions like any other noun.
• Example 6:
  • 除了奖牌，冠军还有十万元的奖金。
  • Pinyin: Chúle jiǎngpái, guànjūn hái yǒu shí wàn yuán de jiǎngjīn.
  • English: Besides the medal, the champion also gets 100,000 yuan in prize money.
  • Analysis: This sentence clearly distinguishes between the medal (奖牌) and prize money (奖金 - jiǎngjīn).
• Example 7:
  • 这次比赛我们一块奖牌都没得到，太可惜了。
  • Pinyin: Zhè cì bǐsài wǒmen yī kuài jiǎngpái dōu méi dédào, tài kěxī le.
  • English: We didn't get a single medal in this competition, what a pity.
  • Analysis: Note the use of the measure word 块 (kuài) here, which is a colloquial alternative to 枚 (méi). 都 (dōu) is used to emphasize “not even one.”
• Example 8:
  • 教练把奖牌挂在了小选手的脖子上。
  • Pinyin: Jiàoliàn bǎ jiǎngpái guà zài le xiǎo xuǎnshǒu de bózi shàng.
  • English: The coach hung the medal around the young contestant's neck.
  • Analysis: This sentence uses the 把 (bǎ) construction to show the action of “hanging” (挂 - guà) the medal.
• Example 9:
  • 你能忍受他这么久，真应该给你发个奖牌！
  • Pinyin: Nǐ néng rěnshòu tā zhème jiǔ, zhēn yīnggāi gěi nǐ fā ge jiǎngpái!
  • English: You've put up with him for so long, you really should be given a medal!
  • Analysis: A perfect example of the figurative use of 奖牌 to praise someone's patience or endurance. 发 (fā) means “to issue” or “to give out.”
• Example 10:
  • 他把所有的奖牌都陈列在客厅的柜子里。
  • Pinyin: Tā bǎ suǒyǒu de jiǎngpái dōu chénliè zài kètīng de guìzi lǐ.
  • English: He displays all of his medals in a cabinet in the living room.
  • Analysis: 陈列 (chénliè) is a formal verb for “to display” or “to exhibit,” suitable for showing off cherished items like medals.

A common point of confusion for learners is distinguishing 奖牌 from similar-sounding words for “awards.”

• `奖牌 (jiǎngpái)` vs. `奖章 (jiǎngzhāng)`:
  • 奖牌 (jiǎngpái): Refers to a medal won in a competition. It is typically worn around the neck. Think: Olympic medal, sports medal, academic competition medal.
  • 奖章 (jiǎngzhāng): Refers to a medal of honor, a badge, or a commemorative medallion. It is often pinned to the chest. Think: military medal for bravery, a medal for 20 years of service to a company.
  • Mistake: Saying “他因为勇敢获得了一枚奖牌” (He received a `jiǎngpái` for his bravery).
  • Correction: “他因为勇敢获得了一枚奖章” (He received a `jiǎngzhāng` for his bravery).
• `奖牌 (jiǎngpái)` vs. `奖品 (jiǎngpǐn)` vs. `奖金 (jiǎngjīn)`:
  • 奖牌 (jiǎngpái): The medal itself.
  • 奖品 (jiǎngpǐn): A physical prize or product given as an award (e.g., a new phone, a book, a coupon). The character 品 means “product.”
  • 奖金 (jiǎngjīn): Prize money or a cash bonus. The character 金 means “gold” or “money.”
  • Mistake: “比赛的第一名是一个奖牌” (The first prize in the competition is a medal). While technically true, it's imprecise.
  • Correction: “比赛的奖品是一台电视和一万元奖金，冠军还会获得一枚金牌。” (The prizes for the competition are a TV and 10,000 yuan in prize money, and the champion also gets a gold medal.)

• 金牌 (jīnpái) - Gold medal. The highest prize in a competition.
• 银牌 (yínpái) - Silver medal. For second place.
• 铜牌 (tóngpái) - Bronze medal. For third place.
• 奖章 (jiǎngzhāng) - A medal of honor or badge; a close relative of `奖牌` but used for non-competitive honors.
• 奖品 (jiǎngpǐn) - A physical prize or product given as an award.
• 奖金 (jiǎngjīn) - Prize money or a cash award.
• 冠军 (guànjūn) - Champion; the person who wins the gold medal.
• 获奖 (huòjiǎng) - To win a prize/award. The verb describing the action of receiving a `奖牌`, `奖品`, or `奖金`.
• 荣誉 (róngyù) - Honor, glory, credit. The abstract concept that a `奖牌` represents.
• 奥运会 (Àoyùnhuì) - The Olympic Games, the most famous context for `奖牌`.