ZHIZHI 知止 · LEARN CHINESE DAILY

to give (a gift) / to send / to see off

sòng
9 strokes · 辶 (walk radical) + 关-like right — carrying something along the road · HSK 2

Where 送 comes from

送 walks 辶 with hands offering something — delivery in character form. To send is to walk a thing (or a person) part of their way.

送 in Chinese culture

送 is generosity in motion: 送礼物 (give gifts — with rules: never clocks, never four of anything), 送朋友 (see a friend off — hosts walk guests to the door, the elevator, sometimes the street, negotiating 别送了! 'don't see me further!' the whole way), 外卖送到了 (the delivery arrived). Gift-giving etiquette and delivery apps both run on 送 — the character that never lets you leave empty-handed.

Example

送给 sònggěi — to give (as a gift) to

这本书送给你。
Zhè běn shū sònggěi nǐ.
This book is a gift for you.

How to remember it

Walking 辶 something to someone — SEND, GIVE, SEE OFF.

Never 送 a clock: 送钟 sounds exactly like 送终 — attending a deathbed. Gift homophones are a minefield.

Same sound, different tones

1st sōng
pine / loose
4th sòng
to send

Words unlocked by 送

送给 sònggěi
give to
送礼物 sòng lǐwù
give a gift
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