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讚 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
讚zànto praise, to eulogize; to commendx, 26 strokes, radical 言
zàn(zan4) T4
  1. 1to praise, to eulogize; to commend
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March 24, 2026

讚zàn(zan4)

The character 讚 (zàn) means to praise or commend someone or something. It is commonly used in contexts where one expresses approval or admiration, such as complimenting a person's achievements or a work of art. This character often conveys a sense of enthusiasm and endorsement.

Strokes26Radical言
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, giving praise is an important aspect of social interaction, often used to build relationships and show respect. The concept of 讚 aligns with the cultural value of harmony, where complimenting others fosters goodwill.

Memory Tip

Imagine a person standing on a podium, with a big smile, giving a thumbs-up while praising someone. The character 讚 looks like a person (the top part) with arms raised in celebration, and the sound 'zàn' resembles 'zan' in 'yay', which is what you say when you want to cheer someone on.

Meanings of 讚

zàn(zan4)
1to praise, to eulogize; to commend
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 讚

讚Simplified
26Strokes
言Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 讚

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Podcast: 讚

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AI Study Notes for 讚

Quick Contrast

点赞 (diǎn zàn) vs 赞美 (zàn měi) — use 讚 (zàn) for general praise or commendation, while 点赞 (diǎn zàn) specifically refers to the action of giving a 'like' on social media, and 赞美 (zàn měi) emphasizes a more formal or elaborate expression of admiration.

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 讚 with similar-sounding characters that have different meanings. This character is informal and often used in social media or casual conversations, but can also be used in more formal contexts. Common collocations include 讚美 (zànměi, to praise) and 讚賞 (zànshǎng, to commend).

HSK Study Tips

While 讚 is not officially part of the HSK vocabulary, it is related to other words of praise and approval at this level. Students should focus on its pronunciation and usage in both written and spoken Chinese, as it can enhance their ability to express positive sentiments.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 讚 with 赞 (the simplified form). Be sure to use the appropriate form based on the context. For example, saying '我讚美她的表演' is correct, while '我赞美她的表演' is also correct but in simplified Chinese.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 讚

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Etymology of 讚

Formation TypeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Explanation

Simplified form of 贊. Phonosemantic compound. 貝 represents the meaning and 兟 represents the sound. Shells (貝) were used as currency in ancient China. Used here to depict financial support.

Memory Hint

Words 言 of praise 贊; 贊 also provides the pronunciation

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

What kind of character is 讚?

Decomposition of 讚

IDS Structure⿰言贊
讚Full Character
=
言yan2
left
贊zan4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 讚?

How to say to praise, to eulogize; to commend in Chinese

“to praise, to eulogize; to commend” in Chinese is讚zàn

The character 讚 (zàn) means to praise or commend someone or something. It is commonly used in contexts where one expresses approval or admiration, such as complimenting a person's achievements or a work of art. This character often conveys a sense of enthusiasm and endorsement.

When to use 讚

Be careful not to confuse 讚 with similar-sounding characters that have different meanings. This character is informal and often used in social media or casual conversations, but can also be used in more formal contexts. Common collocations include 讚美 (zànměi, to praise) and 讚賞 (zànshǎng, to commend).

讚 or something close to it

点赞 (diǎn zàn) vs 赞美 (zàn měi) — use 讚 (zàn) for general praise or commendation, while 点赞 (diǎn zàn) specifically refers to the action of giving a 'like' on social media, and 赞美 (zàn měi) emphasizes a more formal or elaborate expression of admiration.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 讚 with 赞 (the simplified form). Be sure to use the appropriate form based on the context. For example, saying '我讚美她的表演' is correct, while '我赞美她的表演' is also correct but in simplified Chinese.

Write 讚

讚

Practice writing 讚 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Cultural Notes for 讚

🌏Cross-cultural Insight

In Western cultures, praise is often given more directly and explicitly, while in Chinese culture, it can be more nuanced and tied to social hierarchy.

Word Family of 讚

Words Containing This Character20
赞zànto patronize贊
赞成zànchéngto approve贊成
赞助zànzhùto support贊助
赞同zàntóngto approve of讚同
赞美zànměito admire讚美
称赞chēngzànto praise稱讚
赞扬zànyángto praise讚揚
赞赏zànshǎngto admire讚賞
赞叹zàntànto exclaim in admiration讚嘆
赞誉to praise贊譽
赞助商sponsor贊助商
赞成票approval贊成票
赞许zànxǔto praise讚許
赞不绝口zànbùjuékǒuto praise without cease (idiom); praise sb to high heaven讚不絕口
赞比亚Zambia贊比亞
赞颂to bless讚頌
参赞attache參贊
夸赞to praise誇贊
盛赞an accolade盛讚
赞叹不已zàntànbùyǐto be full of praise (idiom)贊嘆不已
Exercise 1 of 4

Characters with 讚

What does 赞 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 讚

You can say '我讚美你的努力' (Wǒ zànměi nǐ de nǔlì), which means 'I praise your effort.'

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