Table of Contents

tuījiàn: 推荐 - To Recommend, Recommendation

Quick Summary

Core Meaning

Character Breakdown

Cultural Context and Significance

In Western cultures, a recommendation can often be casual and low-stakes. In China, especially in a professional or serious social context, a 推荐 (tuījiàn) is deeply intertwined with the concepts of 关系 (guānxi) (social network/relationships) and 面子 (miànzi) (face/reputation). When you 推荐 someone for a job, you are not just suggesting a name; you are leveraging your own 关系 and putting your 面子 on the line. If the person you recommend performs well, it reflects positively on you and strengthens your relationship with the person you helped. Conversely, if they perform poorly, you risk losing face and damaging your credibility. This makes a formal 推荐 a significant social act. It's a transfer of trust and social capital. While recommending a movie to a friend is casual, recommending a person for a serious matter is a transaction built on a foundation of established trust, and it's a powerful way to build and maintain your 关系 network.

Practical Usage in Modern China

推荐 is an extremely versatile word used across all registers of the language.

Example Sentences

Nuances and Common Mistakes

The most common mistake learners make is confusing 推荐 (tuījiàn) with 介绍 (jièshào) and 建议 (jiànyì).