捐献

• Pinyin: juān xiàn
• Hanzi breakdown: 捐 = 扌+ 肙 (donate/contribute); 献 = 鬳 + 犬 (offer/dedicate)

Meaning

To donate; to contribute; to offer for a public or charitable cause. Typically involves giving money, property, or one's body (organs, blood) to benefit others.

Carries a stronger sense of selfless giving and civic virtue than 捐款 (donate money) or 赠送 (give as a gift). Often used in formal appeals, ceremonial contexts, and news reports about philanthropy, disaster relief, or organ donation.

Examples

1. 这位企业家将毕生积累的大部分财富捐献给了专注于山区儿童教育的公益基金会。 The entrepreneur donated most of the wealth he had accumulated over his lifetime to a charitable foundation focused on education for children in mountainous areas.
2. 他在遗嘱中明确表示，希望去世后将器官捐献给有需要的患者，让生命以另一种方式延续。 In his will, he clearly stated that after his death he hoped to donate his organs to patients in need, letting his life continue in another way.
3. 公司员工自愿捐献了总计数十万元的善款，用于支援受洪灾影响的偏远地区灾后重建。 Company employees voluntarily donated a total of several hundred thousand yuan to support post-flood reconstruction in remote areas affected by the disaster.

Usage Guide

Context: charity, philanthropy, organ donation, disaster relief

Tone: positive

Do Say

• 政府呼吁社会各界积极捐献物资，共同帮助受灾群众尽快重建家园。(The government called on all sectors of society to actively donate supplies to help disaster victims rebuild their homes as soon as possible.)
• 医院设立了专门的捐献登记窗口，方便有意愿捐献遗体或器官的市民办理手续。(The hospital set up a dedicated donation registration window to facilitate procedures for citizens who wish to donate their remains or organs.)

Don't Say

• 他把旧衣服捐献给了朋友 — 捐献 is for public/charitable causes, not personal gifts to individuals; use 送 or 赠送 instead

Origin & History

捐 (donate/contribute) + 献 (offer/dedicate)

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal