赠

贈

zèng

曾 + 贝

HSK 3.0Level 5

Definitions

zèng (verb) to give as a present; to bestow

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 贝 represents the meaning and 曾 represents the sound. Simplified form of 贈.

Semantic: 贝 Phonetic: 曾

About

赠 is the simplified form of the traditional character 贈, a phono-semantic compound related to transactions of value. Its left component, the simplified shell radical 贝 (from traditional 貝), provides the semantic category of wealth or valuable goods. The right component, 曾, serves as the phonetic indicator. The character’s original meaning is to present a gift or bestow something of worth out of respect or affection. It functions almost exclusively as a formal verb, denoting the act of donating, gifting, or presenting items without expecting payment.

Etymology Hide

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Cao Wei (Three Kingdoms: 222-280 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

商店赠送小礼物

Shāngdiàn zèngsòng xiǎo lǐwù

The store gives small gifts.

他赠给我一本好书

Tā zèng gěi wǒ yī běn hǎo shū

He gave me a good book as a gift.

生日时朋友赠我卡片

Shēngrì shí péngyou zèng wǒ kǎpiàn

On my birthday, my friend gave me a card.

这张唱片是赠品

Zhè zhāng chàngpiàn shì zèngpǐn

This record is a free gift.

她赠送鲜花以表感谢

Tā zèngsòng xiānhuā yǐ biǎo gǎnxiè

She gave flowers to express gratitude.

公司向员工赠送节日礼品

Gōngsī xiàng yuángōng zèngsòng jiérì lǐpǐn

The company gives holiday gifts to employees.

图书馆接受了他的赠书

Túshūguān jiēshòule tā de zèngshū

The library accepted his donated books.

为了纪念这位作家我们举办了赠书活动

Wèile jìniàn zhè wèi zuòjiā wǒmen jǔbànle zèngshū huódòng

To commemorate this writer, we held a book donation event.

Related Characters

Component: 曾

Component: 贝

赠