称颂 (chēng sòng) — to praise, to extol, to eulogize (formal/literary)

Definition

A formal, literary verb meaning 'to praise or extol' — used in writing about heroes, achievements, or noble deeds, more elevated than everyday 赞扬 or 表扬.

verb
to praiseto extolto eulogize (formal/literary)

Examples

  • 称颂。
    Lì shǐ jiāng yǒng yuǎn chēng sòng zhè wèi wěi dà de kē xué jiā.
    History will forever praise this great scientist.
  • 称颂。
    Tā de yīng yǒng xíng wéi shòu dào suǒ yǒu rén de chēng sòng.
    His heroic act was praised by everyone.
  • 称颂。
    Zhè piān wén zhāng chēng sòng le gǔ dài shèng xián de zhì huì.
    This article extols the wisdom of ancient sages.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

称chēngpraise
颂sòngextol

称 (praise) and 颂 (extol) are parallel, meaning to praise.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 稱; 称 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
禾禾hérice
Sound part声符shēngfú
爯
爯chēng稱chēng
Same sound today

The traditional form 稱 pairs 禾 (rice) with 爯, a part giving the sound; it is explained as measuring rice. The simplified 称 is a later shorthand.

Open 称 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 頌; 颂 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
頁頁yèhead
Sound part声符shēngfú
公
公gōng頌sòng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 頌 pairs 公 for the sound with 頁, meaning head.

Open 颂 →

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