捧

pěng

verb HSK 6 #8,521

Meanings

1 to hold in both hands; to cup in one's palms
2 to praise; to flatter
3 measure word for what can be held in both hands

Characters

捧

pěng

to hold in both hands; to praise

Examples

HSK 4

她送给老师一捧鲜花。

Tā sònggěi lǎoshī yì pěng xiānhuā.

She gave the teacher a bunch of flowers.

HSK 4

别捧他了，他会骄傲的。

Bié pěng tā le, tā huì jiāo'ào de.

Stop flattering him, he'll get arrogant.

HSK 7-9

他捧着奖杯，笑得很开心。

Tā pěng zhe jiǎngbēi, xiào de hěn kāixīn.

He held the trophy in both hands, smiling happily.

Tips

usage

捧 specifically means holding with BOTH hands cupped together, like holding something precious. Holding with one hand is 拿 (ná). The 'praise' meaning comes from the image of lifting someone up on your palms - 捧场 (pěngchǎng) means to show support by attending someone's event.

Components

radical

扌 shǒu

hand (left-side radical of 手)

Left hand radical - three-stroke side-form of 手, the indexing radical for manipulation verbs. In 捧 it doubles the hand imagery already present on the right: holding something cupped, lifted up reverently with both palms. Same family: 拿 to take, 抓 to grab, 提 to lift, 抱 to embrace.

phonetic

奉 fèng

to offer respectfully

Right 奉 supplies the sound - fèng drifting to pěng via labial alternation. It also adds meaning: 奉 itself pictures two hands offering up a sprig of millet, the gesture of reverent presentation. So 捧 is literally a hand reinforcing the offering - lifting something with both palms.

Stroke Order

捧 pěng

捧