稱讚 / 称赞
chēngzàn
The English phrase "compliment" can be translated into Chinese as 稱讚 / 称赞 (chēngzàn) or 道賀 / 道贺.
Meaning: expression of praise, congratulation or respect (noun)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 稱讚 / 称赞 | chēngzàn |
| 道賀 / 道贺 | dàohè |
稱讚 / 称赞 is used for general praise or compliments regarding someone's qualities, actions or work. While the source lists it as a noun, 稱讚 / 称赞 is most commonly used as a verb meaning "to praise" or "to compliment" in a sentence.
Which one should you use?
稱讚 / 称赞 is the general term for a compliment or praise.
How do you pronounce it?
chēngzàn
Did you know?
- When someone gives you a heavy compliment, the standard polite response is not to say 'thank you', but to use 'modesty' phrases like 哪里哪里 (nǎlǐ nǎlǐ), which translates to 'where, where'.
- If you want to compliment someone's skill, you might use the idiom 厲害 (lìhài). While it literally means 'fierce' or 'formidable', it is one of the most common ways to say someone is 'amazing' or 'great'.
- The word 稱讚 / 称赞 contains the character 讚 / 赞, which historically referred to the music played during a ritual to praise a deity.
Examples in context
- 你的工作做得非常棒！You've done an excellent job with your work!
- 您真是个出色的领导！You are an outstanding leader!
- 你的建议非常有见地。Your suggestions are very insightful.
- 您的成绩令人羡慕。Your achievements are admirable.
- 你的新发型很酷！Your new hairstyle looks cool!
- 你的笑容让我感到快乐。Your smile makes me happy.
- 你真的很有才华！You are really talented!
- 你的服装搭配得很好。Your outfit looks great.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “compliment” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
