diǎnzàn: 点赞 - To Like, To Give a Thumbs-Up

• Keywords: 点赞, dianzan, to like in Chinese, thumbs-up in Chinese, Chinese for like button, what does dianzan mean, WeChat likes, Weibo likes, Chinese social media terms, Chinese internet slang
• Summary: Learn the essential Chinese term 点赞 (diǎnzàn), which means “to like” or “give a thumbs-up,” especially on social media. Originally describing the action of clicking the 'like' button on platforms like WeChat or Weibo, diǎnzàn has evolved into a common spoken phrase to express approval or praise in daily life. This guide will break down its meaning, cultural significance, and practical use with many examples, helping you understand modern digital China.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): diǎn zàn
• Part of Speech: Verb (specifically, a verb-object compound)
• HSK Level: HSK 4
• Concise Definition: To click “like” on online content or to express approval, often symbolized by a thumbs-up.
• In a Nutshell: 点赞 (diǎnzàn) is the direct equivalent of hitting the “Like” button on Facebook, YouTube, or Instagram. The word perfectly captures the action: 点 (diǎn) means “to click” or “to point,” and 赞 (zàn) means “to praise.” So, you are literally “clicking to praise.” While born on the internet, its usage has expanded into everyday conversation to mean “well done” or “I approve.”

• 点 (diǎn): This character's original meaning is a “dot” or “point.” From there, it developed into a verb meaning “to point at” or, in the digital age, “to click” with a mouse or tap with a finger.
• 赞 (zàn): This character means “to praise,” “to commend,” or “to support.” It conveys a sense of approval and admiration.
• When combined, 点赞 (diǎnzàn) forms a highly intuitive and literal term: to perform an action (a click/tap) that signifies praise.

点赞 (diǎnzàn) is more than just a word; it's a cultural phenomenon of the modern, hyper-connected China.

• The “Like” Economy: Just like in the West, getting likes (获得点赞 - huòdé diǎnzàn) is a powerful form of social validation. On dominant platforms like WeChat (微信 - Wēixìn), Weibo (微博 - Wēibó), and Douyin (抖音 - Dǒuyīn), the number of likes a post receives is a public metric of its popularity and the user's social influence.
• From Digital to Analog: The most interesting cultural aspect of 点赞 is its leap from the screen into spoken language. In the West, it's rare to hear someone say, “I'm going to 'like' your new haircut.” Instead, you'd say, “I love your new haircut!” In China, however, it's perfectly normal and common to hear someone say “我要为你点赞” (Wǒ yào wèi nǐ diǎnzàn), meaning “I want to give you a thumbs-up/praise you for that.” It's a modern, slightly playful way to express direct approval for someone's action, idea, or achievement in the real world.
• Maintaining Harmony and Face: Giving a 点赞 is a low-effort way to participate in social interaction and show support. It helps maintain relationships (关系 - guānxi) and give face (给面子 - gěi miànzi) by acknowledging a friend's post, even if you don't have time to write a full comment (评论 - pínglùn). It's a small but significant gesture in a collectivist culture that values group harmony.

点赞 is a versatile term used in various contexts, from online platforms to daily chats.

• On Social Media: This is its primary and most literal use. It refers to the physical act of clicking the thumbs-up icon.
• In Daily Conversation: It is used metaphorically to express admiration or approval. A teacher might 点赞 a student's clever answer, or a friend might 点赞 your cooking skills.
• In Business and Marketing: Companies constantly run campaigns asking users to “点赞、评论、转发” (diǎnzàn, pínglùn, zhuǎnfā) — “Like, Comment, and Share.” This trio is the key to driving engagement and visibility on Chinese social media.
• As a Separable Verb: Because it's a verb-object compound, the two characters can be separated. This is a crucial grammar point. For example, you can say “给你点个赞” (gěi nǐ diǎn ge zàn), which literally means “give you click one praise.” This structure is extremely common.

• Example 1:
  • 我给你的新照片点赞了。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ gěi nǐ de xīn zhàopiàn diǎnzàn le.
  • English: I liked your new photo.
  • Analysis: This is the most standard usage, referring to the action on social media. The structure 给 [something] 点赞 is very common.
• Example 2:
  • 如果你喜欢这个视频，请别忘了点赞和关注！
  • Pinyin: Rúguǒ nǐ xǐhuān zhège shìpín, qǐng bié wàngle diǎnzàn hé guānzhù!
  • English: If you like this video, please don't forget to 'like' and follow!
  • Analysis: A classic call-to-action used by content creators on platforms like Bilibili or Douyin. 关注 (guānzhù) means “to follow.”
• Example 3:
  • 你今天的表现太棒了，我必须为你点个赞！
  • Pinyin: Nǐ jīntiān de biǎoxiàn tài bàng le, wǒ bìxū wèi nǐ diǎn ge zàn!
  • English: Your performance today was amazing, I have to give you a thumbs-up for it!
  • Analysis: This is a perfect example of the metaphorical, real-world usage. Note the separable verb form 点个赞 (diǎn ge zàn), which makes the phrase feel more natural and conversational.
• Example 4:
  • 这篇文章收到了超过一万个赞。
  • Pinyin: Zhè piān wénzhāng shōudào le chāoguò yī wàn ge zàn.
  • English: This article received over 10,000 likes.
  • Analysis: Here, 赞 (zàn) is used as a noun on its own, which is common when referring to the count of likes. 个 (ge) is the measure word for likes.
• Example 5:
  • 他在朋友圈里发的每一条我都会点赞。
  • Pinyin: Tā zài Péngyǒuquān lǐ fā de měi yī tiáo wǒ dōu huì diǎnzàn.
  • English: I like every single post he puts on his WeChat Moments.
  • Analysis: This sentence specifically mentions WeChat Moments (朋友圈 - Péngyǒuquān), the most popular social feed in China, where 点赞 is a primary form of interaction.
• Example 6:
  • 谢谢大家的点赞和支持！
  • Pinyin: Xièxie dàjiā de diǎnzàn hé zhīchí!
  • English: Thank you everyone for your likes and support!
  • Analysis: Here, 点赞 functions as a noun. This is a common phrase used by people to express gratitude for social media engagement.
• Example 7:
  • 老板，这个主意怎么样？快给我点个赞吧！
  • Pinyin: Lǎobǎn, zhège zhǔyi zěnmeyàng? Kuài gěi wǒ diǎn ge zàn ba!
  • English: Boss, what do you think of this idea? C'mon, give me some approval!
  • Analysis: A playful, informal way to ask for approval in a work setting. It's much lighter than saying “please approve my idea.”
• Example 8:
  • 别光点赞啊，留个言吧！
  • Pinyin: Bié guāng diǎnzàn a, liú ge yán ba!
  • English: Don't just 'like' it, leave a comment!
  • Analysis: This shows the social expectation that can sometimes go beyond a simple like. 留个言 (liú ge yán) means “to leave a comment.”
• Example 9:
  • 他的视频没什么人点赞，他有点儿难过。
  • Pinyin: Tā de shìpín méi shénme rén diǎnzàn, tā yǒudiǎnr nánguò.
  • English: His video didn't get many likes, and he's a little sad about it.
  • Analysis: Shows the negative case and emotional impact of not receiving social validation online.
• Example 10:
  • 只要你点赞我们的页面，就可以参加抽奖。
  • Pinyin: Zhǐyào nǐ diǎnzàn wǒmen de yèmiàn, jiù kěyǐ cānjiā chōujiǎng.
  • English: As long as you 'like' our page, you can enter the prize draw.
  • Analysis: Demonstrates a common marketing tactic used by businesses to increase their social media following.

• 点赞 (diǎnzàn) vs. 喜欢 (xǐhuān): This is the most critical distinction for learners. They are not interchangeable.
  • 点赞 (diǎnzàn) is for a specific action, post, or idea. It means “to approve of” or “to click like on.”
  • 喜欢 (xǐhuān) is for a general feeling of fondness towards a person, place, hobby, or object.
  • Correct: 我给你的猫的照片点赞了。(Wǒ gěi nǐ de māo de zhàopiàn diǎnzàn le.) - I 'liked' your cat's photo.
  • Correct: 我很喜欢你的猫。(Wǒ hěn xǐhuān nǐ de māo.) - I really like your cat.
  • Incorrect: 我点赞你的猫。 (This sounds very strange, as if you're clicking a “like” button on a physical cat.)
  • Incorrect: 我喜欢你的帖子。 (While grammatically okay, it sounds a bit formal and intense. 点赞 is the specific and more natural term for the social media action.)
• Not Separating the Verb: A common mistake is forgetting that 点赞 can and often should be separated.
  • Less Natural: 我点赞了你。(Wǒ diǎnzàn le nǐ.)
  • More Natural: 我给你点了赞。(Wǒ gěi nǐ diǎn le zàn.) or 我为你点赞。(Wǒ wèi nǐ diǎnzàn.)

• 喜欢 (xǐhuān) - To like (general fondness); a “false friend” of the social media “like.”
• 关注 (guānzhù) - To follow (a user or account on social media).
• 粉丝 (fěnsī) - Fans; followers (a phonetic loanword from English “fans”).
• 评论 (pínglùn) - To comment; a comment.
• 转发 (zhuǎnfā) - To share, forward, or retweet.
• 收藏 (shōucáng) - To save, bookmark, or add to favorites (literally “to collect and store”).
• 朋友圈 (Péngyǒuquān) - WeChat Moments; the newsfeed feature on WeChat where 点赞 is a core function.
• 微博 (Wēibó) - A major Chinese microblogging platform, similar to Twitter, where 点赞 is also central.
• 赞 (zàn) - The single character for “praise,” often used as the label on the button itself or as a noun for “like.”