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欣赏
xīn shǎng
appreciate
我非常欣赏他的才华。
I really appreciate his talent.
neutral
To regard with approval, respect, or satisfaction; to value or admire.
她欣赏大自然的美丽。
She appreciates the beauty of nature.
我们欣赏他的勇气和坚持。
We admire his courage and perseverance.
Often used for both tangible things (art, nature) and abstract qualities (talent, character).
formal
To judge or evaluate the worth, quality, or significance of something.
这幅画的价值需要专家来欣赏。
The value of this painting needs to be appreciated by an expert.
Less common in everyday speech; more typical in art criticism or formal contexts.
Pro Tip
Common Objects of Admiration
欣赏 is often paired with nouns related to art, nature, or personal qualities (e.g., 音乐, 风景, 才华, 品格).
Gold Rule
Appreciation vs. Enjoyment
欣赏 implies a deeper recognition of value or quality, while 享受 (enjoy) focuses on pleasure. For example, '欣赏音乐' (appreciate music) suggests understanding its artistic merit, while '享受音乐' (enjoy music) suggests simply liking the sound.
Word Origin
From the Chinese characters '欣' (xīn, meaning 'happy' or 'joyful') and '赏' (shǎng, meaning 'to reward' or 'to admire'). The compound emphasizes a positive emotional response combined with recognition of value.
Usage Notes
Used for both active admiration ('I appreciate your kindness') and passive recognition ('This painting is appreciated for its technique'). The object can be concrete (art, scenery) or abstract (talent, effort).
Word Breakdown
欣
happy, joyful
root赏
to reward, admire
root汉英词典