(chǎn) — to produce, to manufacture, to yield; to give birth

Definition

产 (chǎn) covers both 'to produce/manufacture' and 'to give birth'. 生产 is the formal written equivalent for both senses; 生育 is used only for bearing children, not making goods.

verb
to produceto manufactureto yieldto give birth

Examples

  • Zhè jiā gōng chǎng měi nián chǎn dà liàng qì chē.
    This factory produces a large number of cars every year.
  • Tā qù nián chǎn le yí gè jiàn kāng de bǎo bao.
    She gave birth to a healthy baby last year.
  • Zhè ge dì qū zhǔ yào chǎn xiǎo mài hé yù mǐ.
    This region mainly produces wheat and corn.

Origin

Sound + meaning
六书liùshū
形声xíngshēng

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 產; 产 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
shēngto be born
Sound part声符shēngfú
yànchǎn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 產 pairs 生, "to be born," with 彥 as a sound part; the simplified 产 is a shorthand.

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