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赞许 (zàn xǔ) — to praise, to commend

Definition

Formal written verb for 'praise, commend,' often used for approving someone's effort or achievement. Stronger and more literary than 表扬 (everyday spoken), and less effusive than 赞美 (admiration).

verb
to praiseto commend

Examples

  • 赞许。
    Tā de nǔ lì dé dào le dà jiā de zàn xǔ.
    His efforts received everyone's praise.
  • 赞许。
    Lǎo shī zàn xǔ le tā de chuàng yì.
    The teacher praised his creativity.
  • 赞许。
    Lǐng dǎo zài huì shàng gōng kāi zàn xǔ le zhè xiàng chéng guǒ.
    The leader publicly praised this achievement at the meeting.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

赞zànpraise
许xǔapprove

赞 praise and 许 approve combine to mean regard something as good.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 贊; 赞 is its simplified writing.

The simplified 赞 stands for more than one traditional character. In most words (称赞, 赞赏) it is 讚; in others (赞成, 赞同) it is 贊.

  • 㚘㚘㚘
  • 貝貝bèimoney

This note is about the traditional form 贊. It pairs 㚘 with 貝 (money) for helping with money; the simplified 赞 is a shorthand.

Open 赞 →

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 許; 许 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
言言yánspeech; words
Sound part声符shēngfú
午
午wǔ許xǔ
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 許 pairs 言, meaning speech or words, with 午 for its sound; 许 is a simplified form.

Open 许 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Attitudes & OpinionsCommunication & Speech

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