表彰 is a formal verb meaning 'to commend' or 'to honor publicly,' typically for outstanding achievements, moral conduct, or service. The character 表 (biǎo) means 'to show' or 'to express,' while 彰 (zhāng) means 'to make clear' or 'to highlight.' Together, they convey the idea of openly recognizing and making visible someone’s merit — not just privately praising, but formally acknowledging it in front of others.

This word is commonly used in official, institutional, or organizational contexts: schools may 表彰 top students; companies may 表彰 exemplary employees; governments may 表彰 heroes or volunteers. It carries a respectful, dignified tone and often appears with nouns like 奖励 (reward), 模范 (model), or 先进 (advanced/progressive). While it can appear in spoken Chinese, it is more frequent in written reports, announcements, and formal speeches than in casual conversation.