奖励

• Pinyin: jiǎng lì
• Hanzi breakdown: 奖 = 将 (will) + 大 (big), meaning prize; 励 = 厉 (severe) + 力 (strength), meaning encourage

Meaning

To reward; reward. A prize or incentive for achievement.

Can function as both verb and noun. Used in education, workplace, and parenting contexts. Distinguished from 奖 (prize) by emphasizing the act of rewarding. Opposite of 惩罚 (punishment).

Examples

1. 公司对表现优秀的员工给予丰厚的年终奖励。 The company gives generous year-end rewards to employees with excellent performance.
2. 为了奖励孩子的好成绩，爸爸带他去游乐园玩了一天。 To reward the child for his good grades, dad took him to the amusement park for a day.
3. 这款学习软件用积分奖励机制激励用户每天打卡。 This learning app uses a points reward system to motivate users to check in daily.

Usage Guide

Context: work, education, parenting, gaming

Tone: positive

Do Say

• 这是给你的奖励。(This is a reward for you.)
• 我们应该奖励他的努力。(We should reward his efforts.)

Don't Say

• 奖励他的错误 (奖励 is for positive achievements — for mistakes, use 原谅 or address differently)

Origin & History

Compound of 奖 (to award, prize) + 励 (to encourage), meaning to award as encouragement.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal