déjiǎng: 得奖 - To Win an Award, To Receive a Prize

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• Summary: Learn how to use “得奖” (déjiǎng), the essential Chinese verb for “to win an award” or “receive a prize.” This comprehensive guide breaks down the characters, explores the cultural importance of awards in China, and clarifies the crucial difference between 得奖 (déjiǎng) and 赢 (yíng). Perfect for HSK 4 students and beginners who want to talk about achievements, movies, competitions, and more.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): déjiǎng
• Part of Speech: Verb-Object Compound
• HSK Level: HSK 4
• Concise Definition: To receive a prize or win an award.
• In a Nutshell: “得奖” (déjiǎng) is a straightforward and common term that literally means “to get a prize.” It's what you use whenever someone is the recipient of an award, from a student winning a spelling bee to a film winning an Oscar. It focuses on the result of being given an honor or prize for an achievement.

• 得 (dé): This character's primary meaning is “to get,” “to obtain,” or “to receive.” Think of it as the action of acquiring something.
• 奖 (jiǎng): This character means “prize,” “award,” or “reward.” The top part (将) provides the sound, while the bottom part (犬) is a radical that has been simplified over time. In this context, it simply refers to the honor or item being given.

When combined, 得奖 (déjiǎng) creates a very logical verb-object phrase: “to get (得) a prize (奖).”

In both Western and Chinese cultures, winning an award is a significant achievement. However, the cultural weight behind 得奖 in China often carries a stronger collective dimension. While an American might celebrate winning an award as a testament to their individual talent and hard work, in China, this honor often extends to the person's family, school, or company. The concept of 面子 (miànzi), or “face,” is deeply relevant here. When a person 得奖s, they not only gain personal prestige but also bring honor and “face” to their entire social group. This reflects a more collectivist value system where individual achievements are seen as a contribution to the group's reputation. An award isn't just a personal trophy; it's a validation that reflects positively on one's upbringing, education, and team.

得奖 is a versatile term used in many situations, from formal to casual.

• Formal Contexts: You will frequently see and hear 得奖 in news reports about film festivals (like the Oscars or Cannes), scientific achievements (Nobel Prizes), and corporate awards. It's the standard, official term.
• Informal Contexts: In daily conversation, it's used just as often. Friends will talk about their favorite actor who 得奖了 (déjiǎng le - won an award), a child who 得奖了 in a school competition, or even winning a small prize in a company lottery.

The connotation is almost always positive and celebratory. It signifies success, recognition, and achievement.

• Example 1:
  • 她因为这部电影得奖了。
  • Pinyin: Tā yīnwèi zhè bù diànyǐng déjiǎng le.
  • English: She won an award for this movie.
  • Analysis: A simple, common sentence structure. “因为 (yīnwèi)…” explains the reason for winning the award. The “了 (le)” indicates the action is completed.
• Example 2:
  • 你希望哪个演员得奖？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ xīwàng nǎge yǎnyuán déjiǎng?
  • English: Which actor do you hope wins an award?
  • Analysis: This shows how to use 得奖 in a question about a future possibility.
• Example 3:
  • 恭喜你们的团队得奖！
  • Pinyin: Gōngxǐ nǐmen de tuánduì déjiǎng!
  • English: Congratulations to your team for winning the award!
  • Analysis: 得奖 is often used in celebratory phrases starting with “恭喜 (gōngxǐ)” - congratulations.
• Example 4:
  • 他从小到大得过很多奖。
  • Pinyin: Tā cóngxiǎo dào dà déguò hěnduō jiǎng.
  • English: He has won many awards since he was a child.
  • Analysis: The particle “过 (guò)” indicates past experience. Note that when an adjective like “很多 (hěnduō)” is added, the two characters are often separated: “得 (dé) 很多 (hěnduō) 奖 (jiǎng)”. This is a very common pattern.
• Example 5:
  • 这本书得奖是实至名归的。
  • Pinyin: Zhè běn shū déjiǎng shì shízhì-míngguī de.
  • English: It's a well-deserved honor for this book to win the award.
  • Analysis: This example pairs 得奖 with the idiom “实至名归 (shízhì-míngguī),” which means “the honor is well-deserved.”
• Example 6:
  • 没想到我的设计也能得奖，我太开心了！
  • Pinyin: Méi xiǎngdào wǒ de shèjì yě néng déjiǎng, wǒ tài kāixīn le!
  • English: I didn't expect my design could also win an award, I'm so happy!
  • Analysis: This sentence expresses surprise and joy, a very common real-life reaction to winning something.
• Example 7:
  • 只有最努力的学生才能得奖学金。
  • Pinyin: Zhǐyǒu zuì nǔlì de xuéshēng cái néng dé jiǎngxuéjīn.
  • English: Only the most hardworking students can get a scholarship.
  • Analysis: Here, 得奖 is separated to form a more specific term: “得 (dé) 奖学金 (jiǎngxuéjīn)” - to get scholarship money. This shows the flexibility of the “verb + object” structure.
• Example 8:
  • 虽然他没有得奖，但我们都为他感到骄傲。
  • Pinyin: Suīrán tā méiyǒu déjiǎng, dàn wǒmen dōu wèi tā gǎndào jiāo'ào.
  • English: Although he didn't win an award, we are all proud of him.
  • Analysis: A perfect example of using 得奖 in a negative form with “没有 (méiyǒu)”.
• Example 9:
  • 他的目标是在奥运会上得奖牌。
  • Pinyin: Tā de mùbiāo shì zài Àoyùnhuì shàng dé jiǎngpái.
  • English: His goal is to win a medal at the Olympics.
  • Analysis: Similar to the scholarship example, this shows how to specify the type of award: “得 (dé) 奖牌 (jiǎngpái)” - to get a medal.
• Example 10:
  • 这次得奖是对我们多年研究的肯定。
  • Pinyin: Zhè cì déjiǎng shì duì wǒmen duōnián yánjiū de kěndìng.
  • English: Winning the award this time is an affirmation of our many years of research.
  • Analysis: This sentence treats 得奖 as a noun phrase (“The act of winning an award”), showing its grammatical flexibility.

The most common mistake for English speakers is confusing 得奖 (déjiǎng) with 赢 (yíng).

• 得奖 (déjiǎng): To RECEIVE an AWARD. Focuses on the outcome of being given a prize. You win an award, a prize, a medal, a scholarship.
• 赢 (yíng): To WIN a CONTEST/GAME. Focuses on the act of defeating an opponent or succeeding in a competition. You win a match, a game, a race, a bet, a war.

Think of it as a sequence: First you 赢比赛 (yíng bǐsài - win the competition), and as a result, you 得奖 (déjiǎng - get the prize).

• Correct: 他赢了比赛，得了一个大奖。 (Tā yíngle bǐsài, déle yí ge dà jiǎng.)
  • English: He won the competition and got a big prize.
• Incorrect: 他赢了一个大奖。 (Tā yíngle yí ge dà jiǎng.)
• Why it's wrong: You don't “defeat” a prize. You “receive” it. The verb 赢 (yíng) needs an opponent or a competitive event as its object, not the prize itself.

• 获奖 (huò jiǎng) - A more formal and literary synonym for 得奖. It means the exact same thing but is more common in written language and official announcements.
• 颁奖 (bān jiǎng) - To present an award. This is the action done by the person or organization *giving* the award.
• 赢 (yíng) - To win (a game, a match, a bet). The verb for defeating an opponent, not for receiving a prize.
• 奖品 (jiǎng pǐn) - A physical prize or product that you win.
• 奖金 (jiǎng jīn) - Prize money; a cash award.
• 奖杯 (jiǎng bēi) - A trophy cup.
• 奖牌 (jiǎng pái) - A medal (e.g., gold, silver, bronze).
• 荣誉 (róng yù) - Honor, glory. This is the abstract concept one gains from 得奖.
• 恭喜 (gōng xǐ) - Congratulations. What you say to someone who has 得奖.