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I have been studying Chinese for a while, and what I find interesting is that no 2 words have exactly the same definitions.
For example, 表扬 and 称赞 have almost the same meaning, but there will always be some subtle differences in meaning, which means they cannot be used interchangeably.
Are there any two chinese words Non-Nouns with exactly the same meaning, such that they can be used interchangeably?
Many Chinese words contain multiple meanings, in certain context, two different words that share an overlap meaning can be used interchangeably
Example:
正確 : accurate; correct
凖確 : accurate; exact; precise; spot on
Interchangeable case:
正確答案 = correct answer; accurate answer
凖確答案 = accurate answer
(both mean the same)
non-interchangeable case:
凖確射擊 = accurate shooting (accurately hit the target)
正確射擊 = correct shooting (shooting in a correct form)
More example:
教 : 1. (v) teach; instruct; educate; 2.(v) [colloquial] cause; make
授 : 1. (v) confer; award; give; grant; 2. (v) teach; instruct; lecture
Interchangeable case:
教他武功 = teach him martial art
授他武功 = teach him martial art
(both mean the same)
Although they are interchangeable when meaning 'teach' , 教 is more colloquial, 授 is more literary
non-interchangeable case:
教人難受 = cause people to feel bad (cannot be changed to 授人難受)
授以重任 = give important task (cannot be changed to 教以重任)
There are a lot of Non-Noun words that are literary identical and interchangeable for sure, such as:
需要 / 须要 = need
常常 / 经常 / 时常 = always
高兴 / 开心 / 快乐 = happy
for your example, 表扬 is more on recognition and 称赞 is like praising so they are practically different in most of the usage.
