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点赞 (diǎn zàn) — to like, to upvote (on social media)

Definition

A casual online action meaning 'to like / upvote' (a post, photo, comment). Unlike 赞同 and 赞扬, it expresses quick approval by clicking, not spoken praise or formal endorsement.

verb
to liketo upvote (on social media)

Examples

  • 点赞。
    Qǐng gěi wǒ de xīn zhào piàn diǎn zàn.
    Please like my new photo.
  • 。
    Tā gěi wǒ de wén zhāng diǎn le yí gè zàn.
    He gave my article a like.
  • 点赞？
    Nǐ diǎn zàn zhè piān wén zhāng le ma?
    Did you like this article?

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

点diǎnclick
赞zànpraise

Tapping 点 on the 赞 button expresses approval, like a social media like.

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 點; 点 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
黑黑hēiblack
Sound part声符shēngfú
占
占zhàn點diǎn(r)
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 點 pairs 黑 (black) with 占 for its sound; the simplified 点 is a later abbreviation.

Open 点 →

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 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 5Computers & Internet

Browse more HSK 5 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.