to obtain; gain; win
HSK level
获得 is written with 21 strokes (获: 10, 得: 11). The animation replays automatically.
获得 (huòdé) is a verb meaning to obtain, gain, acquire, or win — to come into possession of something, usually through effort, achievement, or a formal process.
It pairs with abstract or earned objects: 获得奖学金 'win a scholarship,' 获得冠军 'win the championship,' 获得成功 'achieve success,' 获得支持 'gain support.' Compared with English 'get,' 获得 is markedly more formal and positive, and it does not cover everyday physical getting — you don't 获得 a coffee or 获得 the bus. For casual 'get,' Chinese uses 得到 (dédào) or 拿到 (nádào).
获得 carries a sense of earning or being awarded something worthwhile, which is why it dominates news headlines and formal writing. Register is written/formal. Compare 取得 (to attain, near-identical, slightly emphasizing achievement) and 得到 (broader, more neutral).
Note: More formal than 得到. Preferred in news, reports, and writing — 获得冠军 (win a championship), 获得成功 (achieve success). In casual speech 得到 or 拿到 usually sounds more natural.
Character by character
Memory hook: 获 (harvest) + 得 (get) — you harvest and get your reward through effort.
她获得了这次比赛的第一名。
Tā huòdé le zhè cì bǐsài de dì-yī míng.
She won first place in this competition.
neutral
通过努力，他终于获得了成功。
Tōngguò nǔlì, tā zhōngyú huòdé le chénggōng.
Through hard work, he finally achieved success.
neutral
这部电影获得了很高的评价。
Zhè bù diànyǐng huòdé le hěn gāo de píngjià.
This film received very high praise.
written
这项研究获得了国家的支持。
Zhè xiàng yánjiū huòdé le guójiā de zhīchí.
This research gained state support.
written
取得 is nearly interchangeable but leans slightly toward attaining a result through active effort (取得进步 'make progress'). 获得 emphasizes receiving or being awarded something. Both are formal.
得到 is broader and more neutral, usable in casual speech for getting anything (得到帮助 'get help'). 获得 is more formal and implies something earned or awarded. In writing, prefer 获得; in chat, 得到.
收获 is a noun meaning gains or harvest — what you take away from an experience. 获得 is the verb 'to obtain.' You 获得 a prize; you describe the trip as full of 收获.
Acquire it by listening
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