繁殖 (fán zhí) — to breed, to reproduce, to propagate | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

繁殖 (fánzhí) is the standard term for biological reproduction — plants, animals, or microbes producing offspring. Unlike 培育 or 养殖, it focuses on the natural reproductive process, not human cultivation.

verb

to breedto reproduceto propagate

Examples

繁殖。
Zhè zhǒng tù zi zài chūn tiān fán zhí dé hěn kuài.
This kind of rabbit breeds very fast in spring.
繁殖。
Zhí wù zài hé shì de tiáo jiàn xià cái néng fán zhí.
Plants can only reproduce under suitable conditions.
繁殖。
Kē xué jiā yán jiū rú hé kòng zhì hài chóng de fán zhí.
Scientists study how to control the reproduction of pests.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

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

繁fánincrease

繁 and 殖 both suggest increasing and breeding, so the idea is to multiply.

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.

敏糸繁

Meaning part形符xíngfú

糸糸mìsilk

Sound part声符shēngfú

敏

敏mǐn繁fán

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

繁 pairs 敏, a sound part, with 糸, meaning silk.

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

歹直殖

Meaning part形符xíngfú

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.

Appears in

HSK 3.0 Level 6 HSK 2.0 Level 6 Biology

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