认生 (rèn shēng) — to be shy or wary of strangers (typically of babies, young children, or pets)

Definition

Used for babies, young children, or pets who are shy or wary around strangers. It is not a general word for 'shy' — it specifically describes this reaction to unfamiliar people.

adjective
to be shy or wary of strangers (typically of babies, young children, or pets)

Examples

  • 认生，。
    Zhè ge hái zi hěn rèn shēng, yí jiàn dào mò shēng rén jiù kū.
    This child is very shy with strangers; he cries as soon as he sees someone unfamiliar.
  • 认生，。
    Wǒ jiā de xiǎo gǒu bú rèn shēng, shuí bào dōu kě yǐ.
    My puppy isn't wary of strangers — anyone can hold him.
  • 认生。
    Bǎo bao liù gè yuè de shí hou kāi shǐ rèn shēng le.
    The baby started being shy with strangers at six months old.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

认rènrecognize
生shēngstranger

“认” recognize and “生” strangers combine to mean recognizing strangers, hence being wary around unfamiliar people.

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
讠Written in full as言yánspeech
Sound part声符shēngfú
人
人rén认rèn
Same sound today

The left part 讠 shows speech, and the right part 人 gives the sound.

Open 认 →

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 →

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