夸奖 is a verb meaning 'to praise' or 'to commend'—it expresses positive recognition of someone’s actions, qualities, or achievements. The character 夸 (kuā) means 'to exaggerate' or 'to boast', but in this compound it softens to mean 'to speak highly of'; 奖 (jiǎng) means 'prize' or 'reward', adding the sense of approval and encouragement. Together, they form a common, polite, and warm verb used in everyday speech, especially when acknowledging effort, good behavior, or skill.

夸奖 is typically transitive and takes a person or action as its object (e.g., 夸奖他, 夸奖她的进步). It’s neutral in register—appropriate for teachers praising students, parents encouraging children, or colleagues recognizing each other’s work. Unlike stronger terms like 表扬 (which implies formal recognition) or 赞美 (more literary and often for admirable qualities), 夸奖 feels personal, immediate, and heartfelt.