赠 (zèng) — to give as a present, to gift (formal)

Definition

Formal/written verb 'to gift.' Unlike the everyday 送 or the noun 礼物 (the thing given), 赠 is used in formal writing, dedications, or titles like 赠送.

verb

to give as a presentto gift (formal)

Easily confused

赠。
Tā zèng gěi le wǒ yí jiàn lǐ wù.
He gave me a gift.
赠。
Zhè shì péng you zèng gěi wǒ de shū.
This is a book given to me by a friend.
赠。
Gōng sī zèng gěi měi wèi tóng shì yí fèn lǐ wù.
The company gave each colleague a gift.

Sound + meaning

六书liùshū

形声xíngshēng

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 贈; 赠 is its simplified writing.

貝曾贈

Meaning part形符xíngfú

貝貝bèi

Sound part声符shēngfú

曾

Same sound today

The traditional form 贈 combines 貝 with 曾, which supplies the sound; the simplified 赠 is a shorthand.

Appears in