获得

• Pinyin: huò dé
• Hanzi breakdown: 获 = 犭(animal) + component — to capture or obtain; 得 = 彳 (step) + 寸 (inch) + 旦 variant — to get by reaching out

Meaning

To obtain; to acquire; to gain; to earn. To successfully receive something through effort or process.

The most common compound using 获. Used for achievements, awards, qualifications, and abstract concepts like respect or freedom. Common collocations include 获得成功 (achieve success), 获得批准 (gain approval), 获得机会 (gain an opportunity), and 获得冠军 (win the championship). More formal than 得到.

Examples

1. 她通过努力获得了奖学金。 She earned the scholarship through hard work.
2. 这个项目获得了政府的批准。 This project received government approval.
3. 他获得了同事们的尊重和信任。 He gained the respect and trust of his colleagues.

Usage Guide

Context: achievement, official, academic

Tone: positive

Do Say

• 他获得了博士学位。(He obtained a doctoral degree.)
• 我们的团队获得了比赛冠军。(Our team won the championship.)

Don't Say

• 我获得了一个苹果 (Don't use 获得 for casual purchases — use 买了; 获得 implies something earned or officially granted)

Origin & History

获 (huò, to obtain/capture) + 得 (dé, to get) — a compound reinforcing the meaning of successfully gaining or achieving something.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal