How to Write 捧 (pěng) — Meaning “Hold with both hands / Praise”

Imagine you are holding a precious gift with both hands — your hands (扌) are cupped like a bowl, and you offer it upward (奉). The shape of 奉 can look like a person lifting a tray, reinforcing the idea of holding something carefully and respectfully.

Pay attention to the left component 扌: the vertical stroke should be straight, and the lifting stroke ends before crossing the horizontal. The right part 奉 has three horizontal strokes; the top two are shorter, and the bottom one is longer and slightly curved. A common mistake is making the hand radical too wide — keep it narrow to leave space for 奉.

捧 means "to hold with both hands" or "to flatter," while 拜 means "to bow" or "to worship" (the left hand and right hand form a gesture of respect). 括 means "to include" or "to enclose" (from 扌 + 舌, as in folding together). Visually, 捧 has 奉 on the right, 拜 has two hands (一手 and 一手), and 括 has 舌 (tongue).

捧 is common in everyday language: 捧着 (pěng zhe) describes physically holding something like a book or a bowl with both hands. 吹捧 (chuī pěng) means to flatter or boost someone's reputation excessively, and 捧场 (pěng chǎng) means to show up to support a performance or event. In Chinese culture, holding something with both hands shows respect and careful attention.

Common words containing 捧 include: 捧着 (pěng zhe) — Holding (with both hands); 吹捧 (chuī pěng) — to flatter; 捧场 (pěng chǎng) — Support (an event/person) / Show up to support.