How to Write 褒 (bāo) — Meaning “to praise; to commend; large (garment)”

Imagine that someone protects (保) you by wrapping you in a big coat (衣), and you praise them for their kindness. The image of being "wrapped in praise" helps link the top part 保 and the bottom 衣 to the meaning of "to praise."

Write the top part 保 first (9 strokes: person radical, then 呆), then the bottom 衣 (6 strokes). A common mistake is making the bottom 衣 too wide; keep its horizontal stroke shorter than the top part so the character stays balanced. Also note that the left-falling stroke of 衣 should not extend too far left.

褒 has 保 on top and 衣 below, meaning "to praise." 裔 has a different top part (㐬) and means "descendant" or "hem of a garment." 裘 has 求 on top and 衣 below, meaning "a fur coat." Visually, compare the top: 保 (person + tree) vs. 㐬 vs. 求.

褒 is used in formal or written Chinese for "to praise" or "to commend," as in 褒奖 (to praise and reward). It is the opposite of 贬 (to criticize) in the common phrase 褒贬 (to appraise). Culturally, 褒义词 (commendatory terms) are important in Chinese rhetoric for positive descriptions.

Common words containing 褒 include: 褒奖 (bāo jiǎng) — to praise and reward; commendation; 褒义词 (bāo yì cí) — commendatory term; word with a positive connotation; 褒贬 (bāo biǎn) — to praise and criticize; to appraise.