Definition
赏 (shǎng) has two distinct meanings: (1) 'to reward' — a superior giving money or gifts to an inferior, more formal and hierarchical than 奖励 (jiǎnglì), which is a neutral 'to reward' for any relationship; (2) 'to appreciate, to enjoy' — used with scenery, art, or beauty (赏月 'admire the moon'). The 'bestow' sense overlaps with 赐 (cì), but 赐 is even more formal and often implies a royal or divine grant.
verb
to rewardto bestow (a gift or money from a superior to an inferior)to appreciateto enjoy (beauty, art, scenery)
Easily confused
- 赛sàilook-aliketo compete
- 上shàngsound-alike(noun) above, on, up (indicating position or location)
- 贵guìlook-alikeexpensive
- 伤shāngsound-alike(verb) to injure, to hurt
- 负fùlook-alike(verb) to bear, to carry (a burden, responsibility, debt)
- 尚shàngsound-alike(adverb) still, yet (formal)
- 员yuánlook-alike(suffix) person; employee; member
Examples
- 赏。Huángdì shǎng gěi dàchén hěn duō jīnyín.The emperor bestowed a lot of gold and silver on the minister.
- ，。Zhōngqiūjié de wǎnshang, wǒmen zuò zài yuànzi lǐ shǎng yuè.On Mid-Autumn Festival evening, we sat in the courtyard admiring the moon.
- 赏。Gōngsī shǎng le tā wǔ wàn kuài qián zuòwéi jiǎnglì.The company rewarded him with 50,000 yuan as a bonus.
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