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| 贡献 [2025/08/11 09:56] – created xiaoer | 贡献 [Unknown date] (current) – removed - external edit (Unknown date) 127.0.0.1 |
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| ====== gòngxiàn: 贡献 - Contribution, To Contribute, To Devote ====== | |
| ===== Quick Summary ===== | |
| * **Keywords:** gongxian meaning, 贡献, Chinese word for contribution, contribute in Chinese, how to use gongxian, Chinese culture contribution, dedicate, devotion, HSK 4 vocabulary | |
| * **Summary:** Learn the essential Chinese word **贡献 (gòngxiàn)**, which means both "to contribute" (verb) and "contribution" (noun). This page breaks down its cultural significance in valuing collective effort, shows you how to use it in professional and social contexts, and provides over 10 practical example sentences. Discover the difference between 贡献 (gòngxiàn) and simply donating, and master a key term for expressing dedication and value in Chinese. | |
| ===== Core Meaning ===== | |
| * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** gòngxiàn | |
| * **Part of Speech:** Verb, Noun | |
| * **HSK Level:** HSK 4 | |
| * **Concise Definition:** To contribute or dedicate time, effort, or resources; a contribution. | |
| * **In a Nutshell:** **贡献 (gòngxiàn)** is a formal and positive term that encapsulates the idea of giving something of value—be it effort, wisdom, or resources—to a larger group or cause. It's not just a simple transaction; it carries a sense of purpose, dedication, and positive impact on a community, company, or society as a whole. | |
| ===== Character Breakdown ===== | |
| * **贡 (gòng):** This character originally meant "tribute," specifically items of value that states would pay to the emperor. Think of it as offering something valuable upwards to a higher authority or a greater cause. | |
| * **献 (xiàn):** This character means "to offer" or "to present," often in a respectful and formal ceremony. It implies a willing and reverent act of giving. | |
| When combined, **贡献 (gòngxiàn)** merges the ideas of offering a valuable "tribute" (贡) with a respectful and willing presentation (献). This creates a powerful word that signifies a meaningful and valued contribution to a collective goal. | |
| ===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== | |
| In Western, particularly American, culture, "contribution" can often be individualistic and transactional (e.g., a monetary contribution to a campaign, or a "contribution" to a 401k). **贡献 (gòngxiàn)**, however, is deeply rooted in China's collectivist values. | |
| The concept emphasizes the importance of an individual's role in strengthening the group, whether it's the family, the company, or the nation. Making a **贡献** is a way of demonstrating one's value and fulfilling one's responsibility to the collective. It's less about personal gain and more about the betterment of the whole. For example, praising an employee for their **贡献** is not just about the work they did; it's about acknowledging their dedication and positive impact on the team's harmony and success. This contrasts with the Western focus on individual achievement, where praise might be framed as "you hit your sales target" rather than "you contributed greatly to the team's success." | |
| ===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== | |
| **贡献** is a versatile word used in both formal and slightly less formal contexts, but it always carries a positive and respectful tone. | |
| * **In the Workplace:** This is one of the most common places you'll hear **贡献**. Managers use it to praise employees, and employees use it on resumes to describe their impact. The phrase **做出贡献 (zuòchū gòngxiàn)**, "to make a contribution," is extremely common. | |
| * **In Society and Academia:** It's used to discuss the achievements of scientists, artists, thinkers, and historical figures. For example, you would talk about Einstein's **贡献** to physics. It's also used in a civic sense, as in "contributing to society" (为社会做贡献 - wèi shèhuì zuò gòngxiàn). | |
| * **In Personal Relationships:** While less common, it can be used to describe the immense effort and dedication someone has put into their family, such as "a mother's contribution to the family." | |
| The word is almost always positive. It's a term of praise and recognition. | |
| ===== Example Sentences ===== | |
| * **Example 1:** | |
| * 他为公司做出了巨大的**贡献**。 | |
| * Pinyin: Tā wèi gōngsī zuòchūle jùdà de **gòngxiàn**. | |
| * English: He made a huge contribution to the company. | |
| * Analysis: This is a classic example of using **贡献** as a noun with the verb phrase **做出 (zuòchū)**, which means "to make" or "to produce." This is standard business and professional language. | |
| * **Example 2:** | |
| * 这位科学家为世界和平**贡献**了她的一生。 | |
| * Pinyin: Zhè wèi kēxuéjiā wèi shìjiè hépíng **gòngxiàn**le tā de yīshēng. | |
| * English: This scientist devoted her entire life to world peace. | |
| * Analysis: Here, **贡献** is used as a verb meaning "to devote" or "to dedicate." It shows the immense scale of the contribution—her whole life. | |
| * **Example 3:** | |
| * 我们都应该为保护环境**贡献**自己的一份力量。 | |
| * Pinyin: Wǒmen dōu yīnggāi wèi bǎohù huánjìng **gòngxiàn** zìjǐ de yī fèn lìliàng. | |
| * English: We should all contribute our own strength to protecting the environment. | |
| * Analysis: The phrase **贡献力量 (gòngxiàn lìliàng)**, "to contribute strength/effort," is a very common and slightly formal way to talk about doing one's part for a cause. | |
| * **Example 4:** | |
| * 感谢您为我们的项目做出的宝贵**贡献**。 | |
| * Pinyin: Gǎnxiè nín wèi wǒmen de xiàngmù zuòchū de bǎoguì **gòngxiàn**. | |
| * English: Thank you for the valuable contribution you made to our project. | |
| * Analysis: This shows how **贡献** is used in formal expressions of gratitude. **宝贵 (bǎoguì)** means "valuable" and is often used to modify **贡献**. | |
| * **Example 5:** | |
| * 在团队合作中，每个人的**贡献**都非常重要。 | |
| * Pinyin: Zài tuánduì hézuò zhōng, měi ge rén de **gòngxiàn** dōu fēicháng zhòngyào. | |
| * English: In teamwork, everyone's contribution is very important. | |
| * Analysis: A straightforward use of **贡献** as a noun, highlighting its importance in a collaborative setting. | |
| * **Example 6:** | |
| * 他把自己的全部藏书都**贡献**给了国家图书馆。 | |
| * Pinyin: Tā bǎ zìjǐ de quánbù cángshū dōu **gòngxiàn** gěile guójiā túshūguǎn. | |
| * English: He contributed/donated his entire book collection to the national library. | |
| * Analysis: This shows **贡献** used for a material donation, but it implies a grand, selfless gesture for the public good, making it more formal than simply saying "donated" (捐了 - juānle). | |
| * **Example 7:** | |
| * 父母为家庭的**贡献**是无法估量的。 | |
| * Pinyin: Fùmǔ wèi jiātíng de **gòngxiàn** shì wúfǎ gūliàng de. | |
| * English: The contribution of parents to a family is immeasurable. | |
| * Analysis: This brings the grand concept of **贡献** to a more personal, but still deeply respected, family context. | |
| * **Example 8:** | |
| * 你的想法对这次讨论有很大的**贡献**。 | |
| * Pinyin: Nǐ de xiǎngfǎ duì zhè cì tǎolùn yǒu hěn dà de **gòngxiàn**. | |
| * English: Your ideas were a great contribution to this discussion. | |
| * Analysis: **贡献** isn't just for physical effort or items; it can also refer to intellectual contributions like ideas and insights. | |
| * **Example 9:** | |
| * 志愿者们**贡献**了他们的时间和精力来帮助孩子们。 | |
| * Pinyin: Zhìyuànzhěmen **gòngxiàn**le tāmen de shíjiān hé jīnglì lái bāngzhù háizimen. | |
| * English: The volunteers contributed their time and energy to help the children. | |
| * Analysis: This highlights the contribution of intangible but highly valued resources: time and energy. | |
| * **Example 10:** | |
| * 作为一个公民，我能做出的最大**贡献**是什么？ | |
| * Pinyin: Zuòwéi yī gè gōngmín, wǒ néng zuòchū de zuìdà **gòngxiàn** shì shénme? | |
| * English: As a citizen, what is the greatest contribution I can make? | |
| * Analysis: A self-reflective question that shows how **贡献** is tied to civic duty and personal purpose within society. | |
| ===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== | |
| * **贡献 (gòngxiàn) vs. 捐 (juān):** This is a critical distinction for learners. | |
| * **贡献 (gòngxiàn)** is broad and often implies contributing effort, time, talent, or making a significant, formal donation. It's about the value and dedication behind the act. | |
| * **捐 (juān)**, and more specifically **捐款 (juānkuǎn)** or **捐赠 (juānzèng)**, almost always refers to donating money or physical items. It's more of a direct transaction. | |
| * **Example:** You would **捐钱 (juān qián)** (donate money) to a charity, but you would **贡献时间 (gòngxiàn shíjiān)** (contribute time) as a volunteer. Saying you **贡献钱 (gòngxiàn qián)** is grammatically okay but sounds very grand, like you're dedicating your wealth to a cause. | |
| * **Using a Verb with 贡献 (as a Noun):** A common mistake for English speakers is to use **贡献** as a noun without a preceding verb. | |
| * **Incorrect:** 我**贡献**很大。(Wǒ gòngxiàn hěn dà.) - Lit. "My contribution very big." This is awkward. | |
| * **Correct:** 我**做出的贡献**很大。(Wǒ zuòchū de gòngxiàn hěn dà.) - Lit. "The contribution I made is very big." | |
| * **Correct:** 我**的贡献**很大。(Wǒ de gòngxiàn hěn dà.) - "My contribution is very big." | |
| * **Rule of Thumb:** When you want to say "make a contribution," use the set phrase **做出贡献 (zuòchū gòngxiàn)**. | |
| ===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== | |
| * [[奉献]] (fèngxiàn) - To dedicate, to consecrate. This is even more selfless and reverent than **贡献**. It often implies complete devotion without expectation of reward, like a soldier dedicating their life to their country. | |
| * [[捐献]] (juānxiàn) - To donate (formally). A more formal synonym for **捐赠 (juānzèng)**, used for donating items, money, or even organs. | |
| * [[功劳]] (gōngláo) - Merit, credit, meritorious service. **贡献** is the act of contributing, while **功劳** is the recognized credit or achievement that results from it. | |
| * [[成就]] (chéngjiù) - Achievement, accomplishment. This is the result of hard work. Your **贡献** (contribution) helps you gain **成就** (achievements). | |
| * [[付出]] (fùchū) - To pay out, to expend (effort, time). This is a more neutral and general term for "giving." All **贡献** involves **付出**, but not all **付出** is noble enough to be called a **贡献**. | |
| * [[出力]] (chūlì) - To exert effort, to put in one's strength. A more physical and direct way to talk about contributing effort to a task. | |
| * [[做贡献]] (zuò gòngxiàn) - The common verb-object phrase meaning "to make a contribution." Essential to learn as a chunk. | |
| * [[回报]] (huíbào) - To repay, to give back (e.g., to society). This is the act of giving back as a result of what one has received, often linked to the desire to make a **贡献**. | |