When you combine 夸 (kuā - to praise) and 奖 (jiǎng - to reward/encourage), you get 夸奖 (kuājiǎng): a word that means “to praise” in a way that feels encouraging and rewarding. It's verbal encouragement.
In Chinese culture, praise and humility are closely linked. Traditionally, direct and effusive praise, especially towards children, was sometimes avoided to cultivate 谦虚 (qiānxū) - modesty. The belief was that too much praise could lead to arrogance. This contrasts with many Western cultures, where frequent and direct verbal affirmation is a common parenting and management tool. However, modern China is evolving. The value of positive reinforcement is now widely recognized, and 夸奖 (kuājiǎng) is used frequently in schools and at home to build confidence. Despite this shift, the cultural script for receiving a compliment remains largely traditional. Instead of a simple “Thank you,” a common and polite response is to deflect the praise with phrases like “哪里哪里 (nǎli nǎli)” (literally “where, where,” meaning “You're too kind”) or “您过奖了 (nín guòjiǎng le)” (“You flatter me”). This shows humility and respect for the person giving the compliment.
夸奖 (kuājiǎng) is a versatile word used in many contexts, though it often carries a slight sense of a senior-to-junior dynamic.