zèng

give present

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound.

Components
貝 meaning component

  Meaning component

bèi

  

sea shell

曾 sound component

  Sound component

céngzēng

  

already

Evolution

贈 Seal script Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal script

Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
贈 Seal script Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal script

Shuowen (~100 AD)
贈 Clerical script Cao Wei (Three Kingdoms: 222-280 AD)

Clerical script

Cao Wei (Three Kingdoms: 222-280 AD)
贈 Regular script Modern

Regular script

Modern
Definitions

() 

zèng

give present; bestow, confer; to give as a present; to repel; to bestow an honorary title after death (old)

Most common words with 贈
Freq.
Word
Meaning

捐赠

to donate

赠送

to present as a gift

to repel

赠品

gift

赠与

to grant