(sòng) — (bound form) to praise; to extol; (bound form) a eulogy; an ode; a song of praise

Definition

颂 (sòng) is a bound literary root meaning 'praise / ode' — it does not stand alone. Use it as part of compounds like 颂歌 ('ode'), 歌颂 ('to extol'), or 祝颂 ('to convey good wishes').

bound form
to praiseto extola eulogyan odea song of praise

Examples

  • Rén mín gē sòng zǔ guó de fán róng.
    The people extol the prosperity of their motherland.
  • Zhè bù sòng gē zàn měi le yīng xióng de gōng jì.
    This ode praises the heroes' achievements.
  • Zài xìn zhōng tā biǎo shì le duì péng you de zhù sòng.
    In the letter he expressed good wishes to his friend.

Origin

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 頌; 颂 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
head
Sound part声符shēngfú
gōngsòng
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.

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