大奖赛
dàjiǎngsài · HSK 5
Grand prize
🏆 大 big + 奖 prize + 赛 contest = grand prize tournament
大奖赛 decomposes as 大 (big/grand) + 奖 (prize/award) + 赛 (race/contest/match). Literally a big-prize contest, used for grand prix events and major tournaments where top winners take home the headline award.
大 — pictograph of a person with arms outstretched
大 is a pictograph showing a person standing with arms and legs spread wide. The outstretched arms suggest 'big' or 'great', extending from the literal image of a large stance to abstract meanings like important or grand. It is one of the oldest characters, found on oracle bones.
奖 — 将 jiāng (phonetic) + 大 (big)
Originally written 獎 with 犬 (dog) below 將, suggesting urging a dog onward—hence 'encourage, exhort.' The simplified form replaces 犬 with 大. Meaning extended from 'encourage' to 'reward' and then to 'prize, award.'
赛 — roof 宀 + 共 (together) + shell 貝
赛 originally meant offering thanks or recompense to spirits, written with 貝 (cowrie/money) suggesting tribute or payment. The upper part acts as the phonetic component. Over time the meaning shifted from ritual repayment to 'compete' or 'contest,' as in matches between rivals.