Chinese word

过奖

Pronunciation

Pinyinguò jiǎng

Meaning

  • verbpraise too highly

Example

别总是过奖我，好吗？bié zǒng shì guò jiǎng wǒ hǎo ma

Don't always praise me too highly, okay?

Illustration for 过奖 (praise too highly)

More examples

别人夸我时，我常说：'哪里，过奖了'。bié rén kuā wǒ shí wǒ cháng shuō ná lǐ guò jiǎng le

When others praise me, I often say, "No, you're praising me too much."

Core concept

A polite brake on praise that sounds bigger than the achievement deserves.

Common phrases

  • 别过奖我bié guò jiǎng wǒ

    don't praise me too highly

  • 哪里，过奖了ná lǐ guò jiǎng le

    No you're praising me too much

Similar words

夸奖kuā jiǎng: Recognize and speak positively about someone's good points or actions.
表扬biǎo yáng: Give public praise for good conduct or results.
赞扬zàn yáng: Speak warmly about a quality or action that deserves admiration.
恭维gōng wéi: Use praise to please someone and win their favor.

Definition in Chinese

对别人的赞扬表示谦逊或指出赞扬超过实际的程度duì bié rén de zàn yáng biǎo shì qiān xùn huò zhǐ chū zàn yáng chāo guò shí jì de chéng dù

Word origin

过 (guò, "go beyond") + 奖 (jiǎng, "praise") presents praise as going past a reasonable limit, which explains its use as a modest reply.

Usage tips

  • For English-speaking learners, this expression usually softens a compliment rather than rejecting the speaker, and a brief thanks or factual qualification can make the exchange sound natural.

Other meanings

  • flatterverb

Opposites

  • 贬低biǎn dībelittleverb

Word lists with this word