生养 (shēng yǎng) — to give birth to and raise (children)

Definition

Means both 'give birth to' AND 'raise to adulthood' as one combined concept — stronger and more literary than the everyday 养 (raise), and broader than 生 alone (just birth).

verb
to give birth to and raise (children)

Examples

  • 生养，。
    Fù mǔ bú dàn yào shēng yǎng hái zi, hái yào jiào yù tā men.
    Parents not only have to bear and raise children, but also educate them.
  • ，。
    Tā yí gè rén shēng yǎng le liǎng gè hái zi, fēi cháng xīn kǔ.
    She single-handedly bore and raised two children, it was very hard.
  • 生养，。
    Tā men shēng yǎng le sān gè hái zi, dōu hěn yǒu chū xi.
    They bore and raised three children, all of whom turned out very well.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

生shēnggive birth
养yǎngraise

生 give birth and 养 raise mean bearing and rearing children.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

生 shows 屮 (a bud) above 一 (the ground), drawing a sprout coming up from the earth.

Open 生 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 養; 养 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 養 uses 羊 as a sound part and 食 as a meaning part.

Open 养 →

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