jiǎngbēi: 奖杯 - Trophy, Cup

• Keywords: 奖杯, jiangbei, Chinese for trophy, award cup in Chinese, jiangbei meaning, 奖杯 pinyin, Chinese trophy, video game trophy Chinese, 奖牌, 奖状, winning a prize in Chinese.
• Summary: Learn how to say “trophy” in Chinese with the word 奖杯 (jiǎngbēi). This page provides a complete guide to its meaning, character breakdown, and cultural significance. Discover how 奖杯 is used in sports, academics, and even modern video games in China, and learn the crucial difference between a trophy (奖杯), a medal (奖牌), and an award certificate (奖状).

• Pinyin (with tone marks): jiǎng bēi
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 4
• Concise Definition: A cup or other decorative object awarded as a prize for a victory or achievement.
• In a Nutshell: 奖杯 (jiǎngbēi) is the direct Chinese equivalent of the English word “trophy” or “award cup.” It refers to the physical object you receive for winning a competition, excelling in a field, or achieving a significant goal. It's a tangible symbol of success, honor, and recognition.

• 奖 (jiǎng): This character means “award,” “prize,” or “to reward.” Think of it as the core concept of being given something for an accomplishment.
• 杯 (bēi): This character means “cup” or “glass.” It's composed of the wood radical `木 (mù)` on the left and a phonetic component `不 (bù)` on the right, suggesting an early type of cup perhaps made from wood.
• When combined, the meaning is incredibly literal: 奖 (award) + 杯 (cup) = 奖杯 (award cup, or trophy).

In Chinese culture, as in the West, a 奖杯 (jiǎngbēi) is a powerful symbol of achievement and excellence. However, its significance is often amplified by collective cultural values. While a trophy in the West is frequently seen as a mark of individual prowess, in China, winning a 奖杯 often brings 荣誉 (róngyù - honor) not just to the individual, but to their entire support system: their family, their school, their company, and even their hometown. This reflects a more collectivist mindset where individual success is a source of shared pride and enhances the “face” or social standing (面子 - miànzi) of the group. For example, a student winning a national science olympiad trophy is a monumental achievement for their high school. The school will likely display the 奖杯 prominently and celebrate the student's victory as a reflection of the school's high educational standards. This shared sense of accomplishment is a key cultural nuance.

The term 奖杯 (jiǎngbēi) is used in many of the same contexts as “trophy” in English. It is a common and straightforward term.

• Sports and Competitions: This is the most common usage. Teams and individuals win a 奖杯 for placing first in a tournament or league.
• Academics: Students can win a 奖杯 in a debate tournament, math competition, or robotics challenge.
• Corporate/Workplace: Companies may award a 奖杯 for “Salesperson of the Year” or to a team that successfully completes a major project.
• Video Games: The term has been fully adopted by the gaming community. On platforms like PlayStation, digital achievements are literally called 奖杯 (jiǎngbēi). Earning a “platinum trophy” is a sign of a dedicated gamer.

The connotation is always positive, and it is used in both formal (award ceremonies) and informal (talking about a game) settings.

• Example 1:
  • 足球队赢得了冠军奖杯。
  • Pinyin: Zúqiú duì yíngdéle guànjūn jiǎngbēi.
  • English: The soccer team won the championship trophy.
  • Analysis: A classic example of 奖杯 used in a sports context. `冠军 (guànjūn)` means champion, so this is the “champion's trophy.”
• Example 2:
  • 他把奖杯骄傲地放在书架上。
  • Pinyin: Tā bǎ jiǎngbēi jiāo'ào de fàng zài shūjià shàng.
  • English: He proudly placed the trophy on the bookshelf.
  • Analysis: This sentence shows the sense of pride associated with winning a 奖杯. The `把 (bǎ)` structure is used to emphasize what is being done to the object (the trophy).
• Example 3:
  • 这座奖杯是对我们团队辛勤工作的肯定。
  • Pinyin: Zhè zuò jiǎngbēi shì duì wǒmen tuánduì xīnqín gōngzuò de kěndìng.
  • English: This trophy is an affirmation of our team's hard work.
  • Analysis: This highlights the symbolic meaning of a trophy. `肯定 (kěndìng)` means “affirmation” or “recognition.” Note the measure word for a trophy is `座 (zuò)`, which is typically used for large, stable objects like mountains or buildings.
• Example 4:
  • 我花了一个周末才拿到这个游戏的白金奖杯。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ huāle yīgè zhōumò cái ná dào zhège yóuxì de báijīn jiǎngbēi.
  • English: I spent a whole weekend getting the platinum trophy for this game.
  • Analysis: A very modern usage showing how 奖杯 is used in video gaming. `白金 (báijīn)` means “platinum.”
• Example 5:
  • 恭喜你获得年度最佳员工奖杯！
  • Pinyin: Gōngxǐ nǐ huòdé niándù zuì jiā yuángōng jiǎngbēi!
  • English: Congratulations on receiving the Employee of the Year trophy!
  • Analysis: A common phrase used in a corporate or workplace setting during an awards ceremony. `获得 (huòdé)` is a formal way to say “to get” or “to obtain.”
• Example 6:
  • 这座奖杯看起来很重，是纯银的吗？
  • Pinyin: Zhè zuò jiǎngbēi kàn qǐlái hěn zhòng, shì chún yín de ma?
  • English: This trophy looks heavy, is it made of sterling silver?
  • Analysis: A simple descriptive sentence. It's useful for learning how to ask about the physical properties of a 奖杯.
• Example 7:
  • 对她来说，被那所大学录取就是她最大的奖杯。
  • Pinyin: Duì tā lái shuō, bèi nà suǒ dàxué lùqǔ jiùshì tā zuìdà de jiǎngbēi.
  • English: For her, being accepted by that university was her biggest trophy.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates the metaphorical use of 奖杯 to represent any great achievement or prize in life.
• Example 8:
  • 每一个奖杯背后都有一个激动人心的故事。
  • Pinyin: Měi yīgè jiǎngbēi bèihòu dōu yǒu yīgè jīdòng rénxīn de gùshì.
  • English: Behind every trophy, there is an exciting story.
  • Analysis: Another sentence highlighting the symbolism of a trophy. `激动人心 (jīdòng rénxīn)` is a great idiom meaning “stirring” or “exciting.”
• Example 9:
  • 我们只差一分就与奖杯失之交臂。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen zhǐ chà yī fēn jiù yǔ jiǎngbēi shī zhī jiāo bì.
  • English: We missed the trophy by only one point.
  • Analysis: Shows a negative context—the disappointment of not winning. `失之交臂 (shī zhī jiāo bì)` is a useful idiom meaning “to let something slip through one's fingers.”
• Example 10:
  • 市长将亲自为获胜者颁发奖杯。
  • Pinyin: Shì zhǎng jiāng qīnzì wèi huòshèng zhě bānfā jiǎngbēi.
  • English: The mayor will personally present the trophy to the winner.
  • Analysis: This sentence uses formal language appropriate for a ceremony. `颁发 (bānfā)` is the specific verb for “to award” or “to present” a prize.

For English speakers, the biggest challenge is not the meaning of 奖杯 itself, but distinguishing it from other types of awards.

• 奖杯 (jiǎngbēi) vs. 奖牌 (jiǎngpái) - Trophy vs. Medal
  • 奖杯 (jiǎngbēi) is a cup-like, 3D object.
  • 奖牌 (jiǎngpái) is a medal, a flat disc worn around the neck.
  • Incorrect: 他在奥运会上赢得了一个金奖杯。 (He won a gold trophy at the Olympics.)
  • Correct: 他在奥运会上赢得了一枚金奖牌。 (He won a gold medal at the Olympics.)
• 奖杯 (jiǎngbēi) vs. 奖状 (jiǎngzhuàng) - Trophy vs. Certificate
  • 奖状 (jiǎngzhuàng) is an award certificate made of paper.
  • Incorrect: 学校给了我一个奖杯，上面写着“三好学生”。 (The school gave me a trophy that says “Triple-A Student.”) While possible, a certificate is far more common for this honor.
  • Correct: 学校给了我一张奖状，上面写着“三好学生”。 (The school gave me a certificate that says “Triple-A Student.”)
• 奖杯 (jiǎngbēi) vs. 杯子 (bēizi) - Award Cup vs. Drinking Cup
  • A 奖杯 (jiǎngbēi) is never used for drinking. It is purely an award.
  • A regular cup you drink water or coffee from is a 杯子 (bēizi).
  • Incorrect: 我能用一下你的奖杯喝水吗？ (Can I use your trophy to drink water?)
  • Correct: 我能用一下你的杯子喝水吗？ (Can I use your cup to drink water?)

• 奖牌 (jiǎngpái) - Medal. A different type of physical award, worn around the neck.
• 奖状 (jiǎngzhuàng) - Award certificate. A paper document signifying an honor.
• 奖金 (jiǎngjīn) - Prize money; bonus. The monetary component of an award.
• 冠军 (guànjūn) - Champion. The person or team who wins the 奖杯.
• 胜利 (shènglì) - Victory. The act of winning that results in receiving a 奖杯.
• 荣誉 (róngyù) - Honor; glory. The abstract concept that a 奖杯 represents.
• 颁奖 (bānjiǎng) - To present an award. The verb for the action of giving out trophies, medals, etc.
• 比赛 (bǐsài) - Competition; match. The event where one can win a 奖杯.
• 成就 (chéngjiù) - Achievement. Often used in gaming as a synonym for trophy or a specific task required to earn one.