獎

Originally a phono-semantic compound:

犬 (dog) — semantic component;

將 (general; to lead) — phonetic component, supplying the sound (장 / jiǎng).

The earliest meaning is glossed as “to incite by urging dogs” (嗾犬厲之) — to drive or urge forward, like setting dogs upon something.

From the idea of driving forward or urging on, the meaning evolved into: to exhort, to encourage, to promote.

Graphic development:

The standard traditional form is 獎 (with 犬).

However, in many writings, the 犬 component lost one stroke and visually became 大, producing the variant form 奬.

Thus:

獎 = 將 + 犬 (etymologically accurate form).

奬 = graphic simplification where 犬 resembles 大.

In some input systems, only 奬 appears when typing the sound “장,” even though 獎 is the etymologically standard form.

Semantic development:

- to urge forward (originally with dogs);

- to incite or stimulate effort;

- to encourage;

- to reward or promote.

The semantic shift reflects movement from physical urging to moral or institutional encouragement.

장려 (獎勵) — encouragement

포장 (褒獎) — commendation

獎 emphasizes motivating others forward.

Related characters:

勵 — to encourage

賞 — reward

褒 — to praise

將 — to lead; general (phonetic base)

奬 (U+596C)