赠 zèng to bestow
to bestow; to confer; to present a gift; to give as a present
怎么记住“赠”: 贝 sea shell + 曾 used to be = to bestow. Grandpa finds the sea shell that used to be grandma's favourite and ties a ribbon round it, ready to bestow.
部件结构
形声 · Meaning + sound
One part gives the meaning, the other gives the sound.
赠 = 贝 sea shell + 曾 used to be
- 贝 sea shell meaning
- 曾 used to be sound
Grandpa finds the sea shell that used to be grandma's favourite and ties a ribbon round it, ready to bestow.
How it came to be
The shell gives the meaning and the right part the sound: a gift of something of value.
用法
- To present as a gift, more formal than 送. 赠送 (zèngsòng) to give as a gift: 免费赠送 (miǎnfèi zèngsòng) given away free.
- Common on gift inscriptions and promotions: 买一赠一 (mǎi yī zèng yī) buy one get one free.
- 捐赠 (juānzèng) = to donate (to charity, an institution). 赠 carries a giving-without-return, often generous or charitable, tone.