颁发

• Pinyin: bān fā
• Hanzi breakdown: 颁 = 分 (divide) + 页 (page/head); 发 = to issue/emit

Meaning

To issue; to award; to confer (certificates, medals, licenses).

Used when an authority formally presents or issues documents, awards, or credentials. Differs from 颁布 in that it involves physical presentation of items like certificates, medals, or licenses.

Examples

1. 校长亲自为优秀毕业生颁发荣誉证书。 The principal personally presented honorary certificates to the outstanding graduates.
2. 驾照由交通管理部门颁发。 Driver's licenses are issued by the traffic management department.
3. 诺贝尔奖每年在瑞典颁发。 The Nobel Prize is awarded in Sweden every year.

Usage Guide

Context: ceremonial, administrative

Tone: official

Do Say

• 学校颁发奖学金。(The school awards scholarships.)
• 他被颁发了杰出贡献奖。(He was awarded the outstanding contribution award.)

Don't Say

• 对私人赠送礼物用'颁发' (Don't use 颁发 for personal gift-giving — it requires official authority)

Origin & History

颁 (to promulgate/bestow) + 发 (to send out/issue). To officially send out or bestow.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal