zancheng: 赞成 - To Approve, To Agree With, To Endorse

• Keywords: zancheng, 赞成, agree in Chinese, approve in Chinese, how to say I agree in Chinese, zancheng vs tongyi, endorse a plan in Chinese, support an idea in Chinese, Chinese verbs.
• Summary: Discover the meaning of 赞成 (zànchéng), the essential Chinese verb for expressing approval, endorsement, or agreement with a plan or proposal. This guide provides a deep dive into its cultural nuances, practical usage in modern China, and key differences from the similar word 同意 (tóngyì). Learn through clear explanations and 10+ practical example sentences to master how to express your support like a native speaker.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): zànchéng
• Part of Speech: Verb
• HSK Level: HSK 4
• Concise Definition: To express approval for or agreement with a proposal, opinion, or course of action.
• In a Nutshell: 赞成 (zànchéng) is what you say when you want to give a green light to an idea. It's not just a passive “I agree,” but an active “I'm in favor of that” or “I endorse this plan.” Think of it as raising your hand in a meeting to vote “yes” or giving an enthusiastic thumbs-up to a friend's suggestion. It carries a sense of positive support and encouragement.

• 赞 (zàn): This character means “to praise,” “to support,” or “to aid.” A great way to remember it is through the modern term 点赞 (diǎn zàn), which means “to click the 'like' button” on social media. It conveys a feeling of positive commendation.
• 成 (chéng): This character means “to become,” “to succeed,” or “to complete.” It signifies bringing something to a successful conclusion.
• Together: The characters literally combine to mean “to praise (赞) something so that it can be completed or succeed (成).” This paints a clear picture: you're not just agreeing with an idea, you're actively supporting it and wishing for its success.

In Chinese culture, particularly in group or professional settings, maintaining harmony and showing solidarity are highly valued. 赞成 (zànchéng) plays a key role in this dynamic. Expressing 赞成 for a proposal, especially one made by a superior or a group consensus, is a way of showing you are a cooperative and supportive team member. This contrasts with the Western concept of “agreeing,” which can often be a purely individualistic and logical assessment. While an American might say “I agree” to simply state that their opinion aligns with another's, saying 我赞成 (wǒ zànchéng) often implies, “I am on board with this course of action and I will support it.” It is less about a debate of facts and more about the endorsement of a path forward. Consequently, voicing the opposite, 反对 (fǎnduì), or “to oppose,” is a much stronger and more direct act of dissent than simply “disagreeing” in a Western context.

赞成 is a versatile word used in both formal and informal contexts.

• In Business and Formal Meetings: It's the standard word for approving motions, plans, or strategies. You will frequently hear it during discussions and voting procedures.
  • “各位，关于新季度的预算，有谁赞成吗？” (Everyone, regarding the new quarterly budget, who is in favor?)
• In Daily Conversation: Among friends and family, it's used to show you're on board with a suggested activity or plan. It's a slightly more formal and enthusiastic way of saying “Sounds good to me!” or “I'm down for that!”
  • “我们周末去爬山怎么样？” “好啊，我赞成！” (“How about we go hiking this weekend?” “Great, I'm for it!”)
• Expressing Opinion: It's used to show support for a particular viewpoint or decision, especially one that involves a value judgment.
  • “我赞成公司为员工提供更多的培训机会。” (I approve of the company providing more training opportunities for employees.)

• Example 1:
  • 我完全赞成你的提议。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ wánquán zànchéng nǐ de tíyì.
  • English: I completely approve of your proposal.
  • Analysis: Used in a discussion or meeting. 完全 (wánquán) adds emphasis, showing strong and unreserved support for a formal suggestion (提议).
• Example 2:
  • 大多数代表都赞成这个新政策。
  • Pinyin: Dàduōshù dàibiǎo dōu zànchéng zhège xīn zhèngcè.
  • English: The majority of delegates are in favor of this new policy.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates how 赞成 is used to describe a group consensus, common in formal or political contexts.
• Example 3:
  • 他父母不赞成他出国留学。
  • Pinyin: Tā fùmǔ bù zànchéng tā chūguó liúxué.
  • English: His parents do not approve of him studying abroad.
  • Analysis: Here, the negative form 不赞成 (bù zànchéng) shows disapproval of a major life decision. It carries more weight than just “disagreeing.”
• Example 4:
  • “我们去看电影吧？” “我赞成！”
  • Pinyin: “Wǒmen qù kàn diànyǐng ba?” “Wǒ zànchéng!”
  • English: “Let's go see a movie?” “I'm for it!”
  • Analysis: A perfect example of informal, enthusiastic agreement between friends. It's a positive and simple response.
• Example 5:
  • 你赞成还是反对？请举手表决。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ zànchéng háishì fǎnduì? Qǐng jǔshǒu biǎojué.
  • English: Are you for or against it? Please vote by raising your hands.
  • Analysis: This shows 赞成 as a direct opposite of 反对 (fǎnduì - to oppose), commonly used during a formal vote.
• Example 6:
  • 我赞成你的做法，这很公平。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ zànchéng nǐ de zuòfǎ, zhè hěn gōngpíng.
  • English: I approve of your way of doing things, it's very fair.
  • Analysis: This usage extends beyond ideas to endorsing someone's actions (做法), based on a value judgment (fairness).
• Example 7:
  • 如果你能保证项目按时完成，我就赞成这个计划。
  • Pinyin: Rúguǒ nǐ néng bǎozhèng xiàngmù ànshí wánchéng, wǒ jiù zànchéng zhège jìhuà.
  • English: If you can guarantee the project will be finished on time, then I will approve this plan.
  • Analysis: This shows conditional approval. The approval (赞成) is dependent on a specific condition being met.
• Example 8:
  • 这个决定听起来很冒险，我持保留意见，不完全赞成。
  • Pinyin: Zhège juédìng tīngqǐlái hěn màoxiǎn, wǒ chí bǎoliú yìjiàn, bù wánquán zànchéng.
  • English: This decision sounds very risky; I have reservations and do not completely approve.
  • Analysis: 不完全赞成 (bù wánquán zànchéng) is a nuanced way to express partial disapproval or hesitation without outright opposing.
• Example 9:
  • 在辩论中，我赞成正方的观点。
  • Pinyin: Zài biànlùn zhōng, wǒ zànchéng zhèngfāng de guāndiǎn.
  • English: In the debate, I agree with the affirmative side's viewpoint.
  • Analysis: Used to express alignment with one side of an argument or debate.
• Example 10:
  • 只要是对公司有利的，我们都应该赞成。
  • Pinyin: Zhǐyào shì duì gōngsī yǒulì de, wǒmen dōu yīnggāi zànchéng.
  • English: As long as it's beneficial to the company, we should all approve of it.
  • Analysis: This sentence establishes a principle for approval, highlighting the supportive and goal-oriented nature of 赞成.

The most common point of confusion for learners is the difference between 赞成 (zànchéng) and 同意 (tóngyì). They can both be translated as “agree,” but are not interchangeable.

• 赞成 (zànchéng): To Endorse/Approve of a Proposal or Action.
  • Focus: You support an idea and want to see it happen. It's a value judgment.
  • Use with: plans (计划), proposals (提议), viewpoints (观点), methods (做法), policies (政策).
  • Example: 我赞成这个计划。 (Wǒ zànchéng zhège jìhuà.) - I approve of this plan.
• 同意 (tóngyì): To Agree with a Fact or Grant Permission.
  • Focus: You acknowledge something is correct or you give someone permission to do something.
  • Use with: someone's words (你说的话), a request (请求), a factual statement.
  • Example: 我同意你说的。 (Wǒ tóngyì nǐ shuō de.) - I agree with what you said.

Common Mistake: Using 赞成 for a simple statement of fact.

• Incorrect:
  • 地球是圆的，我赞成。 (Dìqiú shì yuán de, wǒ zànchéng.)
  • Why it's wrong: The Earth's shape is a fact, not a proposal you can approve or disapprove of. You are simply aligning with the fact.
• Correct:
  • 地球是圆的，我同意。 (Dìqiú shì yuán de, wǒ tóngyì.) - I agree that the Earth is round.

• `同意` (tóngyì) - A close synonym that means “to agree.” Use 同意 for facts and requests, and 赞成 for proposals and plans.
• `反对` (fǎnduì) - The direct antonym of 赞成, meaning “to oppose, to be against.”
• `支持` (zhīchí) - Means “to support.” It's very close to 赞成 but can also be used to support people or teams (e.g., “I support this candidate”), whereas 赞成 is almost exclusively for ideas or actions.
• `批准` (pīzhǔn) - A more formal word meaning “to approve” or “to ratify.” This is used by someone with official authority, like a boss approving an expense report or a government ratifying a treaty.
• `提议` (tíyì) - A noun meaning “proposal” or “suggestion,” which is an object that you can 赞成.
• `赞同` (zàntóng) - A very close synonym to 赞成, often interchangeable. 赞同 can sometimes feel slightly more focused on sharing the same opinion, while 赞成 is more focused on approving a course of action.
• `点赞` (diǎn zàn) - Literally “to click praise.” This is the modern internet slang for “to like” something on social media, showing the core meaning of 赞.
• `赞美` (zànměi) - To praise or compliment. It focuses on admiring something that already exists, rather than approving something for the future.