殖 (shi) — (bound form) to reproduce, to propagate; (bound form) to colonize, colonial

Definition

殖 (shi) is a bound form — it never stands alone but pairs with 繁 to make 繁殖 ('reproduce') and with 民 to make 殖民地 ('colony'). In both cases the second character carries the core meaning.

bound form
to reproduceto propagateto colonizecolonial
Easily confused

Examples

  • 。
    Tù zi fán shi dé hěn kuài.
    Rabbits reproduce very quickly.
  • 。
    Zhè ge dì qū céng shì yīng guó shi mín dì.
    This area was once a British colony.
  • 。
    Kē xué jiā yán jiū xì bāo fán shi de guò chéng.
    Scientists study the process of cell reproduction.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
歹歹dǎi
Sound part声符shēngfú
直
直zhí殖zhí
Same sound today

殖 is built from 歹 and 直, with 歹 giving the meaning and 直 giving the sound.

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