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p8nda BETA
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赞

贊
zàn
verb #4,515

Meanings

  1. 1 to praise
  2. 2 to support
  3. 3 to approve

Examples

HSK 2
大家都赞她唱得好。
Dàjiā dōu zàn tā chàng de hǎo.
Everyone praised her singing.
HSK 3
这张照片我很喜欢，点个赞。
Zhè zhāng zhàopiàn wǒ hěn xǐhuan, diǎn gè zàn.
I really like this photo, give it a like.

Tips

usage
点赞 is how you say 'to like' a post on social media in Chinese.

Components

radical
贝 bèi
cowrie shell; money
Bottom shell radical - the indexing component, originally a cowrie used as currency. Anchored 赞 in the early sense of presenting a tribute of money or goods to a superior; from that tribute-offering came the modern senses to praise and to support. Same shell family: 财 (wealth), 货 (goods), 赏 (reward).
phonetic
兟 shēn
two figures advancing
Top component is two 先 stacked side by side, picturing two figures stepping forward to present an offering. Carries the sound for 赞 (shēn drifted to zàn through historical drift) and contributes the imagery of forward presentation - going up to praise or endorse someone. Rare on its own; lives mostly inside 赞.

Stroke Order

赞 zàn