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研究生 (yán jiū shēng) — graduate student; postgraduate student

Definition

noun
graduate studentpostgraduate student
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 研究生。
    Tā qù nián kǎo shàng le yán jiū shēng.
    She was admitted as a graduate student last year.
  • 研究生。
    Wǒ jiě jie xiàn zài shì yì míng yán jiū shēng.
    My elder sister is currently a graduate student.
  • 研究生。
    Zhè wèi yán jiū shēng de yán jiū fāng xiàng hěn yǒu yì si.
    This graduate student's research direction is very interesting.

Origin

Derived word
构词法gòucífǎ
后缀hòuzhuìSuffix

A fixed syllable at the end that turns the word into a noun, a person, a place or the like.

研究research
研yánstudy究jiūinvestigate
联合Coordinate
生shēngperson

研究 (research) and 生 (person) combine for a person engaged in research.

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
石石shí
Sound part声符shēngfú
幵
幵jiān研yán
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

In 研, the left part 石 is a stone-related component, and the right part 幵 gives the sound.

Open 研 →

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
穴穴xuécave
Sound part声符shēngfú
九
九jiǔ究jiū
Same sound today

究 pairs 穴, a cave, with 九, which gives the sound.

Open 究 →

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 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 4HSK 2.0 Level 4School & Education

Browse more HSK 4 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.