献 xiàn to offer
to offer; to present; to dedicate; to donate
How to remember 献: 南 South + 犬 dog = to offer. Back from holiday in the South, the girl kneels before her dog and holds up a huge bone to offer as a souvenir.
Component breakdown
献 = 南 South + 犬 dog
- 南 South
- 犬 dog
Back from holiday in the South, the girl kneels before her dog and holds up a huge bone to offer as a souvenir.
How it is used
- A formal, written-register verb meaning to offer, present, or dedicate, rarely used bare in casual speech.
- 贡献 gòngxiàn (contribution) is the most common word, working as both noun and verb: 做贡献 (zuò gòngxiàn) - "to make a contribution."
- 奉献 fèngxiàn (to devote oneself, often selflessly, e.g. to one's country or work) carries a more solemn, self-sacrificing tone than 贡献; 文献 wénxiàn (literature/documents, academic references) and 捐献 juānxiàn (to donate, e.g. blood or organs) round out the cluster.