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流产 (liú chǎn) — miscarriage; abortion (spontaneous or induced); (figurative) failure, falling through (of plans, projects)

Definition

Literally 'flow + give birth,' the medical term for miscarriage or induced abortion. Figuratively, it means a plan or project that 'falls through' — never use it for a general failure, only when something that was underway comes to nothing.

noun
miscarriageabortion (spontaneous or induced)(figurative) failurefalling through (of plans, projects)
Measure word · 次

Examples

  • 流产。
    Tā yīn wèi shēn tǐ yuán yīn jīng lì guò yí cì liú chǎn.
    She experienced a miscarriage due to health reasons.
  • 流产，。
    Yī shēng jiàn yì tā zuò rén gōng liú chǎn, dàn tā jù jué le.
    The doctor suggested she have an induced abortion, but she refused.
  • 流产。
    Nà ge tóu zī jì huà de liú chǎn ràng gōng sī sǔn shī le bù shǎo qián.
    The failure of that investment plan cost the company a lot of money.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

流liúflow
产chǎnfetus

流产 combines 流 flow and 产 fetus to suggest a fetus flowing out.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
水水shuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
㐬
㐬㐬流liú
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

流 has 水, water, and 㐬, which gives the sound. The water part matches meanings such as flow.

Open 流 →

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
生生shēngto be born
Sound part声符shēngfú
彥
彥yàn產chǎn
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.

Open 产 →
Appears in
Illness & SymptomsMedicine & Treatment

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