huòjiǎng: 获奖 - To Win an Award, To Receive a Prize

• Keywords: 获奖, huojiang, win an award in Chinese, receive a prize, get an award, Chinese for award, prize winning, Chinese vocabulary, HSK 4, Chinese grammar, Chinese culture.
• Summary: Learn the essential Chinese term 获奖 (huòjiǎng), which means “to win an award” or “to receive a prize.” This HSK 4 verb is fundamental for discussing achievements in school, work, or competitions. This guide breaks down its meaning, cultural significance, and practical usage with over 10 example sentences, helping you understand how to talk about winning awards and the cultural value placed on recognition in China.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): huòjiǎng
• Part of Speech: Verb-object phrase (functions as a verb)
• HSK Level: HSK 4
• Concise Definition: To obtain or receive an award or prize.
• In a Nutshell: 获奖 (huòjiǎng) is the specific term you use when someone is formally recognized with an award, medal, trophy, or prize money. It's not about winning a game in general (that's 赢 - yíng), but about the act of being presented with an honor for an achievement. Think of it as “award-getting.”

• 获 (huò): This character means to obtain, to get, or to receive. It's a slightly more formal version of “get” than 得 (dé). Imagine it as capturing or securing something of value.
• 奖 (jiǎng): This character means award, prize, or reward. The top part (将) is a phonetic component, while the bottom part (大) means “big,” suggesting a significant form of encouragement or recognition.
• Together, 获 (huò) + 奖 (jiǎng) literally and logically means “to obtain a prize,” perfectly capturing the concept of winning an award.

In Chinese culture, 获奖 (huòjiǎng) is more than just a personal victory; it's often a collective honor. While individual achievement is celebrated in the West, in China, an award brings great 面子 (miànzi), or “face,” not only to the individual but also to their family, school, and company. For example, a student winning a national math competition brings 荣誉 (róngyù), or honor, to their entire school and makes their parents incredibly proud. This reflects a more collectivist value system where individual success is seen as a reflection of the group's strength and a contribution to its reputation. When an employee wins an industry award, it's a victory for the whole team and a powerful marketing tool for the company. Therefore, the act of 获奖 is deeply tied to concepts of social honor, collective pride, and filial piety (making one's parents proud).

获奖 (huòjiǎng) is a common and versatile term used in both formal and informal situations.

• Formal Contexts: You will see this term constantly in news headlines about film festivals (e.g., The Oscars, Cannes), scientific prizes (e.g., Nobel Prize), and official company announcements recognizing top employees. It is the standard term for resumes and official documents.
• Educational Contexts: It's used for everything from winning a scholarship (奖学金 - jiǎngxuéjīn) to getting a certificate for perfect attendance. Teachers will often encourage students by saying they hope they can 获奖.
• Informal Conversation: You might ask a friend, “你的新书获奖了吗？” (Nǐ de xīn shū huòjiǎng le ma? - Did your new book win any awards?). Or you might share news, “你看，这部电影获了很多奖！” (Nǐ kàn, zhè bù diànyǐng huòle hěn duō jiǎng! - Look, this movie won a lot of awards!).

• Example 1:
  • 她因为出色的表演而获奖。
  • Pinyin: Tā yīnwèi chūsè de biǎoyǎn ér huòjiǎng.
  • English: She won an award for her outstanding performance.
  • Analysis: A standard, simple sentence structure. “因为…而…” (yīnwèi…ér…) is a common way to express “to do something because of…”.
• Example 2:
  • 这部电影在国际电影节上获了奖。
  • Pinyin: Zhè bù diànyǐng zài guójì diànyǐngjié shàng huòle jiǎng.
  • English: This movie won an award at the international film festival.
  • Analysis: Here, the verb-object phrase 获奖 is separated by the aspect particle “了” (le). This is very common in spoken Chinese and emphasizes the completion of the action.
• Example 3:
  • 恭喜你获奖！这是你应得的。
  • Pinyin: Gōngxǐ nǐ huòjiǎng! Zhè shì nǐ yīngdé de.
  • English: Congratulations on winning the award! You deserve it.
  • Analysis: A very practical and common phrase for congratulating someone.
• Example 4:
  • 每年都有很多科学家获奖，但只有少数人能获得诺贝尔奖。
  • Pinyin: Měi nián dōu yǒu hěn duō kēxuéjiā huòjiǎng, dàn zhǐyǒu shǎoshù rén néng huòdé Nuòbèi'ěr jiǎng.
  • English: Every year many scientists win awards, but only a few can receive the Nobel Prize.
  • Analysis: This shows 获奖 used in a general sense, contrasted with receiving a specific, named prize.
• Example 5:
  • 他希望能获奖，这样他就能拿到一笔奖金。
  • Pinyin: Tā xīwàng néng huòjiǎng, zhèyàng tā jiù néng ná dào yī bǐ jiǎngjīn.
  • English: He hopes to win an award so that he can get a sum of prize money.
  • Analysis: This sentence connects the act of 获奖 with a tangible result, the 奖金 (jiǎngjīn).
• Example 6:
  • 你的小说有没有获奖？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ de xiǎoshuō yǒu méiyǒu huòjiǎng?
  • English: Did your novel win any awards?
  • Analysis: The “有没有” (yǒu méiyǒu) structure is a common way to form a yes/no question about a past event, equivalent to “…了没有?” (…le méiyǒu?).
• Example 7:
  • 所有的获奖者请上台领奖。
  • Pinyin: Suǒyǒu de huòjiǎngzhě qǐng shàngtái lǐngjiǎng.
  • English: Will all the award winners please come on stage to receive their prizes.
  • Analysis: This introduces the related noun 获奖者 (huòjiǎngzhě), meaning “award winner” or “laureate.”
• Example 8:
  • 虽然他没有获奖，但他的努力得到了大家的认可。
  • Pinyin: Suīrán tā méiyǒu huòjiǎng, dàn tā de nǔlì dédàole dàjiā de rènkě.
  • English: Although he didn't win an award, his efforts were recognized by everyone.
  • Analysis: Shows the negative form, “没有获奖” (méiyǒu huòjiǎng), meaning “did not win an award.”
• Example 9:
  • 这幅画是本次比赛的获奖作品。
  • Pinyin: Zhè fú huà shì běn cì bǐsài de huòjiǎng zuòpǐn.
  • English: This painting is the award-winning work from this competition.
  • Analysis: Here, 获奖 acts as an adjective to describe the noun 作品 (zuòpǐn), meaning “work” (of art, literature, etc.).
• Example 10:
  • 能够获奖是对我们团队最大的鼓励。
  • Pinyin: Nénggòu huòjiǎng shì duì wǒmen tuánduì zuìdà de gǔlì.
  • English: Being able to win an award is the greatest encouragement for our team.
  • Analysis: This sentence shows 获奖 functioning as the subject of a sentence, highlighting the cultural significance of receiving an award as a form of encouragement.

The most common mistake for learners is confusing 获奖 (huòjiǎng) with 赢 (yíng).

• 获奖 (huòjiǎng): To receive an award/prize. Focuses on the recognition.
• 赢 (yíng): To win a contest/game/match. Focuses on the victory or defeating an opponent.

You 赢 (yíng) a competition, and as a result, you might 获奖 (huòjiǎng). Correct:

• 我们赢了比赛。 (Wǒmen yíngle bǐsài.) - We won the game.
• 我们在比赛中获了奖。 (Wǒmen zài bǐsài zhōng huòle jiǎng.) - We won an award in the game.

Incorrect:

• INCORRECT: 我们获奖了比赛。 (Wǒmen huòjiǎngle bǐsài.)
• Why it's wrong: 获奖 is a verb-object phrase (“obtain-prize”). It cannot take another object like “比赛” (bǐsài). The correct verb for winning a competition is 赢 (yíng). Think of it like saying “I award-won the game” in English—it's grammatically awkward.

• 赢 (yíng) - To win (a game, a match, a bet). The action of defeating others, which may or may not result in an award.
• 得奖 (déjiǎng) - A very close synonym for 获奖, often used interchangeably. 得奖 can feel slightly more common in casual spoken language.
• 颁奖 (bānjiǎng) - To present an award. This is the action from the perspective of the person giving the award.
• 奖金 (jiǎngjīn) - Prize money; a cash bonus. A specific type of 奖.
• 奖品 (jiǎngpǐn) - A physical prize or item (e.g., a phone, a gift basket).
• 奖杯 (jiǎngbēi) - A trophy cup.
• 奖状 (jiǎngzhuàng) - A certificate of merit; the paper award itself.
• 荣誉 (róngyù) - Honor, glory. The abstract concept you gain when you 获奖.
• 获奖者 (huòjiǎngzhě) - An award winner, prizewinner, or laureate.