传种 (chuán zhǒng) — to propagate (a species or family line); to reproduce

Definition

Literary/biological verb meaning 'to propagate' — to reproduce and pass a lineage (species or family line) to the next generation. Used in formal or scientific writing, not daily conversation.

verb
to propagate (a species or family line)to reproduce

Examples

  • 传种。
    Zhè ge jiā zú tōng guò jǐ dài rén nǔ lì chuán zhǒng.
    This family has propagated through several generations of effort.
  • ，。
    Tā men zhōng yú chuán le zhǒng, yǒu le hòu dài.
    They finally passed on the lineage and had descendants.
  • 。
    Zhè zhǒng dòng wù hěn nán zài yě wài chuán zhǒng.
    This kind of animal is hard to propagate in the wild.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

传chuánpass on
种zhǒngseed or line

传种 combines 传 (pass on) with 种 (seed or line), meaning to pass on a species or family line.

Characters in this word

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 傳; 传 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
人人rénman
Sound part声符shēngfú
專
專zhuān傳chuán
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 傳 puts 人 (man) beside 專, which gives the sound; the simplified 传 is a later shorthand, and its parts are not the historical ones.

Open 传 →

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

Meaning part形符xíngfú
禾禾hérice
Sound part声符shēngfú
中
中zhōng种zhǒng
Same sound today

种 pairs 禾, which shows rice or grain and fits meanings like plant and seed, with 中, which gives its sound.

Open 种 →

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