颁奖
bānjiǎng · HSK 7
to confer an award
🏆🎖️ BAN-ner ceremony + award JIANG = presenting honors
Ban sounds like banner — at a formal ceremony a banner drops as someone steps up to receive a prize. Jiang echoes award/jiang in many compound words about prizes and recognition.
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.'