juānzèng: 捐赠 - To Donate, To Contribute

• Keywords: 捐赠, juanzeng, donate in Chinese, contribute in Chinese, Chinese for donation, charity in China, give to charity Chinese, philanthropy, HSK 5
• Summary: Learn how to say “donate” in Chinese with the word 捐赠 (juānzèng). This comprehensive guide covers its meaning, cultural significance, and practical use in modern China. Discover how 捐赠 is used for formal acts of charity, like donating money, books, or even organs, and learn to distinguish it from simply “giving a gift” to a friend.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): juānzèng
• Part of Speech: Verb
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: To donate or contribute money or goods, typically to an organization or cause for the public good.
• In a Nutshell: 捐赠 (juānzèng) is the formal Chinese word for “to donate.” Think of it as the word you'd see on a charity's website, in a news report about disaster relief, or when discussing a formal contribution to a museum or school. It’s not for casual gift-giving; it implies a serious, often selfless, act of giving to help others or support an institution.

• 捐 (juān): The hand radical on the left (扌) signifies an action done with the hands. The right side provides the sound. Fundamentally, 捐 means to contribute, give up, or abandon.
• 赠 (zèng): The shell radical on the left (贝) is associated with money and valuables from ancient times. The right side provides the sound. 赠 means to give a gift or to present something of value.
• Together, 捐赠 (juānzèng) literally means “to contribute (捐) valuables (赠)”. The combination of these two characters creates a formal and powerful term that specifically refers to the act of donating to a cause.

In China, the concept of public charity has evolved significantly. Traditionally, giving was often focused within family, clan, or local community networks. The modern concept of large-scale, public philanthropy, similar to Western NGOs, gained massive traction following major events like the 2008 Sichuan Earthquake, which saw an unprecedented outpouring of public donations. While the act of donating is universal, the Chinese context can sometimes be intertwined with other cultural values. A large public 捐赠 can be a way to build social reputation or “face” (面子, miànzi). For companies, it's a significant part of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and can be seen as a way to contribute to social harmony, a core Confucian value. Unlike the Western emphasis on individual giving for personal or religious fulfillment (and tax deductions), 捐赠 in China can be a more public or collective act. It's often reported in the media, and companies or wealthy individuals may be publicly expected to 捐赠 during national crises, reflecting a blend of modern philanthropy and traditional collectivist values.

捐赠 (juānzèng) is a formal word. You will encounter it in specific, non-casual contexts.

• Formal Announcements & News: News reports about disaster relief funds, corporate donations, or philanthropic events will always use 捐赠.
  • “The company announced it would donate one million yuan to the affected area.”
• Charities and NGOs: The “Donate Now” button on a Chinese charity website will say 捐赠.
• Institutional Giving: When you donate items to a school, library, or museum, the act is called 捐赠. For example, 捐赠图书 (juānzèng túshū) - to donate books.
• Medical Contexts: The term is used for serious medical contributions, such as 捐赠器官 (juānzèng qìguān) - to donate organs, or 捐赠遗体 (juānzèng yítǐ) - to donate one's body to science.

The word carries a very positive and respectable connotation. It is never used informally. You would not 捐赠 a birthday present to a friend; for that, you would use 送 (sòng).

• Example 1:
  • 他决定把一部分遗产捐赠给慈善机构。
  • Pinyin: Tā juédìng bǎ yībùfen yíchǎn juānzèng gěi císhàn jīgòu.
  • English: He decided to donate a part of his inheritance to a charitable organization.
  • Analysis: This is a classic, formal use of 捐赠. It involves a significant act (donating inheritance) to a formal entity (charitable organization).
• Example 2:
  • 许多公司向灾区捐赠了食物和水。
  • Pinyin: Xǔduō gōngsī xiàng zāiqū juānzèng le shíwù hé shuǐ.
  • English: Many companies donated food and water to the disaster area.
  • Analysis: Here, 捐赠 is used for corporate giving during a crisis, a very common context. The direction of the donation is marked by 向 (xiàng).
• Example 3:
  • 感谢您的慷慨捐赠！
  • Pinyin: Gǎnxiè nín de kāngkǎi juānzèng!
  • English: Thank you for your generous donation!
  • Analysis: In this sentence, 捐赠 functions as a noun, meaning “donation.” This is a standard phrase used by charities to thank donors.
• Example 4:
  • 我们学校正在为贫困学生募集过冬衣物，欢迎大家捐赠。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen xuéxiào zhèngzài wèi pínkùn xuéshēng mùjí guòdōng yīwù, huānyíng dàjiā juānzèng.
  • English: Our school is currently collecting winter clothes for students in need, and we welcome everyone to donate.
  • Analysis: This shows how an organization might call for donations. It's a public and formal request.
• Example 5:
  • 这位艺术家把他的所有作品都捐赠给了国家美术馆。
  • Pinyin: Zhè wèi yìshùjiā bǎ tā de suǒyǒu zuòpǐn dōu juānzèng gěi le guójiā měishùguǎn.
  • English: This artist donated all of his works to the national art gallery.
  • Analysis: 捐赠 is used here for donating culturally significant items (artworks) to a public institution (a museum).
• Example 6:
  • 器官捐赠可以拯救许多人的生命。
  • Pinyin: Qìguān juānzèng kěyǐ zhěngjiù xǔduō rén de shēngmìng.
  • English: Organ donation can save many people's lives.
  • Analysis: A key medical use of the term, where 捐赠 acts as a noun within the compound word 器官捐赠 (qìguān juānzèng).
• Example 7:
  • 他匿名捐赠了一大笔钱。
  • Pinyin: Tā nìmíng juānzèng le yī dà bǐ qián.
  • English: He anonymously donated a large sum of money.
  • Analysis: This shows that the act of 捐赠 can be done anonymously (匿名, nìmíng).
• Example 8:
  • 每一笔捐赠，无论大小，我们都深表感谢。
  • Pinyin: Měi yī bǐ juānzèng, wúlùn dàxiǎo, wǒmen dōu shēn biǎo gǎnxiè.
  • English: We are deeply grateful for every donation, no matter how large or small.
  • Analysis: Again, 捐赠 is used as a noun. The measure word for a single donation (as a transaction) is 笔 (bǐ).
• Example 9:
  • 图书馆收到了来自校友的图书捐赠。
  • Pinyin: Túshūguǎn shōudào le láizì xiàoyǒu de túshū juānzèng.
  • English: The library received a book donation from an alumnus.
  • Analysis: A common context in educational institutions. Here, 图书捐赠 (túshū juānzèng) means “book donation.”
• Example 10:
  • 这次活动的目标是为希望工程捐赠一百万。
  • Pinyin: Zhè cì huódòng de mùbiāo shì wèi Xīwàng Gōngchéng juānzèng yībǎi wàn.
  • English: The goal of this event is to donate one million to Project Hope.
  • Analysis: Shows 捐赠 used in the context of a specific, famous Chinese charity (希望工程, Xīwàng Gōngchéng - Project Hope).

• 捐赠 (juānzèng) vs. 送 (sòng): This is the most critical distinction for learners.
  • 捐赠 (juānzèng): To DONATE to a cause, charity, or institution. It's formal and impersonal.
  • 送 (sòng): To GIVE a gift to a person (friend, family member, colleague). It's personal and can be formal or informal.
  • Incorrect: 我捐赠给你一个生日礼物。(Wǒ juānzèng gěi nǐ yīgè shēngrì lǐwù.) → This sounds very strange, like you are treating your friend as a charity case.
  • Correct: 我送你一个生日礼物。(Wǒ sòng nǐ yīgè shēngrì lǐwù.) - I'm giving you a birthday present.
• 捐赠 (juānzèng) vs. 捐 (juān):
  • 捐赠 is the complete, formal verb for the act of donating.
  • 捐 (juān) is often used as a shorthand, especially when combined with an object, forming a verb-object compound word. For example: 捐款 (juānkuǎn - to donate money), 捐物 (juānwù - to donate goods), 捐血 (juānxiě - to donate blood). You can say 他捐了钱 (tā juān le qián), which is slightly less formal than 他捐赠了钱 (tā juānzèng le qián).

• 慈善 (císhàn) - Charity, philanthropy. The abstract concept of which 捐赠 is an act.
• 捐款 (juānkuǎn) - To donate money. A more specific type of 捐赠.
• 捐献 (juānxiàn) - To contribute/donate. Very similar to 捐赠, but can sometimes imply a greater sense of sacrifice (e.g., donating one's life).
• 赞助 (zànzhù) - To sponsor. This is different from 捐赠 because sponsoring usually implies the sponsor receives something in return, like advertising space or naming rights.
• 志愿者 (zhìyuànzhě) - Volunteer. A person who donates their time and labor, rather than money or goods.
• 基金会 (jījīnhuì) - Foundation. An organization that is established to manage funds and give them to charitable causes, often receiving many 捐赠.
• 送 (sòng) - To give (as a gift). The everyday verb for giving gifts to people you know.
• 礼物 (lǐwù) - Gift, present. What you 送 (sòng) to a friend, not what you 捐赠 to a charity.