biǎoyáng: 表扬 - To Praise, To Commend

• Keywords: biǎoyáng, 表扬, praise in Chinese, commend in Chinese, how to say praise in Mandarin, Chinese word for commend, commendation, public praise, Chinese workplace culture, HSK 4 vocabulary, 表扬 vs 夸, 表扬 vs 称赞
• Summary: Learn the meaning, usage, and cultural significance of 表扬 (biǎoyáng), the essential Chinese verb for “to praise” or “to commend.” This guide explains how 表扬 is used in formal settings like the workplace and school, how it differs from other words for praise like 夸 (kuā) and 称赞 (chēngzàn), and why it's a key concept in understanding Chinese social dynamics. Master this HSK 4 word with practical examples and cultural insights.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): biǎo yáng
• Part of Speech: Verb
• HSK Level: 4
• Concise Definition: To praise or commend someone publicly for their actions or achievements, typically from a position of authority.
• In a Nutshell: 表扬 (biǎoyáng) isn't just a casual “good job.” It's a more formal, often public, act of recognition. Think of a teacher praising a student in front of the class, or a manager commending an employee in a team meeting. The praise is meant to highlight positive behavior and set an example for others. It carries a sense of official approval from a superior to a subordinate.

• 表 (biǎo): This character means “surface,” “to show,” or “to express.” It originally depicted an outer garment, representing what is shown on the outside.
• 扬 (yáng): This character means “to raise,” “to lift up,” or “to spread.” Imagine raising a flag or spreading good news for all to see and hear.
• When combined, 表扬 (biǎoyáng) literally means “to express and raise up.” This paints a vivid picture of publicly acknowledging someone's good deeds and elevating their status as a positive example.

In Chinese culture, praise, especially from an authority figure, is a significant social act. 表扬 (biǎoyáng) is central to this dynamic. Unlike the frequent and often informal praise in Western cultures (“Awesome job!”, “You're a rockstar!”), 表扬 is more deliberate and carries more weight. It's an important tool for maintaining social harmony and reinforcing group values. A manager who 表扬s an employee for working overtime is not just complimenting the individual; they are signaling to the entire team that this behavior is valued by the collective. This connects directly to the concept of 面子 (miànzi) - “face” or social prestige. To be publicly 表扬ed gives a person a great deal of `miànzi`. Conversely, public 批评 (pīpíng - criticism) causes a loss of face. This system of public praise and criticism is a fundamental way that behavior is managed in schools, companies, and even government institutions. It's less about individual encouragement and more about reinforcing a standard for the group.

表扬 is primarily used in hierarchical contexts where a superior praises a subordinate.

• In the Workplace: A boss 表扬s an employee or a team for meeting a target or showing great initiative. This often happens in a meeting or via a formal email.
  • “The CEO publicly commended our department.” (CEO 表扬了我们部门。)
• In School: A teacher 表扬s a student for getting a good grade, helping a classmate, or being well-behaved. This is almost always done in front of the class to set an example.
  • “The teacher praised Xiao Ming in class.” (老师在课上表扬了小明。)
• Official/Formal Contexts: The government or an organization might 表扬 a “model citizen” or a heroic individual. This can be accompanied by a certificate or award. The written form is a 表扬信 (biǎoyángxìn), a “letter of commendation.”

The word is almost never used between friends or peers for casual compliments. For that, you would use 夸 (kuā).

• Example 1:
  • 老师当着全班同学的面表扬了我。
  • Pinyin: Lǎoshī dāngzhe quán bān tóngxué de miàn biǎoyáng le wǒ.
  • English: The teacher praised me in front of the whole class.
  • Analysis: This is a classic example. The praise is public (`当着…的面 - in front of…`) and comes from an authority figure (teacher).
• Example 2:
  • 他因为工作努力，受到了老板的表扬。
  • Pinyin: Tā yīnwèi gōngzuò nǔlì, shòudào le lǎobǎn de biǎoyáng.
  • English: He received praise from the boss because of his hard work.
  • Analysis: The structure `受到…的表扬 (shòudào…de biǎoyáng)` means “to receive praise from…” It's a very common passive construction with this word.
• Example 3:
  • 这次项目成功，我们团队得到了公司的公开表扬。
  • Pinyin: Zhè cì xiàngmù chénggōng, wǒmen tuánduì dédào le gōngsī de gōngkāi biǎoyáng.
  • English: Our team received a public commendation from the company for the success of this project.
  • Analysis: Here, 表扬 is used as a noun (“a commendation”). `得到 (dédào)` is similar to `受到 (shòudào)` and means “to get” or “to obtain.”
• Example 4:
  • 不要只是批评孩子，也需要适当地表扬他们。
  • Pinyin: Búyào zhǐshì pīpíng háizi, yě xūyào shìdàng de biǎoyáng tāmen.
  • English: Don't just criticize children; you also need to praise them appropriately.
  • Analysis: This sentence directly contrasts 表扬 with its antonym, 批评 (pīpíng - to criticize), highlighting its role in education and parenting.
• Example 5:
  • 公司决定表扬那些在疫情期间做出贡献的员工。
  • Pinyin: Gōngsī juédìng biǎoyáng nàxiē zài yìqíng qījiān zuòchū gòngxiàn de yuángōng.
  • English: The company decided to commend those employees who made contributions during the pandemic.
  • Analysis: Shows a formal, official decision to praise. This is a very typical corporate or institutional use of the word.
• Example 6:
  • 他写的这封表扬信，让那位好心的司机非常感动。
  • Pinyin: Tā xiě de zhè fēng biǎoyángxìn, ràng nà wèi hǎoxīn de sījī fēicháng gǎndòng.
  • English: This letter of commendation he wrote deeply moved that kind-hearted driver.
  • Analysis: This example introduces the compound noun 表扬信 (biǎoyángxìn), a formal letter of praise.
• Example 7:
  • 你觉得经理会表扬我们吗？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ juéde jīnglǐ huì biǎoyáng wǒmen ma?
  • English: Do you think the manager will praise us?
  • Analysis: A simple question form, showing anticipation of formal praise in a workplace setting.
• Example 8:
  • 他的行为值得表扬。
  • Pinyin: Tā de xíngwéi zhídé biǎoyáng.
  • English: His actions are worthy of praise.
  • Analysis: The structure `值得 (zhídé) + Verb` means “is worth doing.” This implies that the actions meet a standard deserving of formal commendation.
• Example 9:
  • 虽然他没有被口头表扬，但公司给了他一笔奖金。
  • Pinyin: Suīrán tā méiyǒu bèi kǒutóu biǎoyáng, dàn gōngsī gěi le tā yī bǐ jiǎngjīn.
  • English: Although he wasn't verbally praised, the company gave him a bonus.
  • Analysis: This highlights that 表扬 is often a verbal or written act, which can be separate from a tangible 奖励 (jiǎnglì - reward/bonus). `口头 (kǒutóu)` means “oral” or “verbal.”
• Example 10:
  • 小时候，我很少得到父亲的表扬。
  • Pinyin: Xiǎoshíhou, wǒ hěn shǎo dédào fùqīn de biǎoyáng.
  • English: When I was little, I rarely received praise from my father.
  • Analysis: This shows 表扬 in a family context, but it still implies a more formal kind of praise from a figure of authority (the father), rather than casual, affectionate compliments.

The biggest mistake for learners is using 表扬 for any and all types of praise. It's crucial to understand its formal, top-down connotation.

• 表扬 (biǎoyáng) vs. 夸 (kuā):
  • 表扬: Formal, for actions/work, superior → subordinate. (A boss 表扬s an employee).
  • 夸 (kuā): Informal, for anything (looks, skills, food), used between anyone (friends, peers).
  • Incorrect: ~~你的新发型很漂亮，我要表扬你！~~ (Nǐ de xīn fàxíng hěn piàoliang, wǒ yào biǎoyáng nǐ!)
  • Correct: 你的新发型很漂亮，我要夸你！(Nǐ de xīn fàxíng hěn piàoliang, wǒ yào kuā nǐ!) - I want to praise/compliment your new hairstyle!
• 表扬 (biǎoyáng) vs. 称赞 (chēngzàn):
  • This is a subtler distinction. 称赞 (chēngzàn) is also a verb for “to praise” and can be used more broadly than 表扬.
  • 表扬 emphasizes public recognition of behavior to set an example. It's about meeting a standard.
  • 称赞 is more about expressing admiration for a quality or achievement. It can be used between equals and is less tied to a hierarchical structure. You can 称赞 an artist's skill, but you would rarely 表扬 it unless you were their teacher or patron.
  • Think of 表扬 as “to commend” and 称赞 as “to praise/acclaim.”

• 夸 (kuā) - To praise informally; to compliment. The best choice for casual praise between friends.
• 称赞 (chēngzàn) - To praise or acclaim. More general than `表扬` and less restricted by hierarchy.
• 批评 (pīpíng) - The direct antonym: to criticize, usually in a formal or serious manner.
• 奖励 (jiǎnglì) - To reward, often with a tangible item like money or a prize. A `奖励` often follows a `表扬`.
• 表扬信 (biǎoyángxìn) - A formal letter of commendation.
• 赞美 (zànměi) - To praise, often in a more literary, admiring, or emotional way (e.g., to praise nature, beauty, or a heroic spirit).
• 榜样 (bǎngyàng) - A role model; an example for others to follow. Someone who is `表扬`-ed often becomes a `榜样`.
• 优点 (yōudiǎn) - A merit, a strong point, a virtue. The reason someone receives a `表扬`.
• 鼓励 (gǔlì) - To encourage. This is about motivating someone for the future, whereas `表扬` is about recognizing a past action.