转基因 (zhuǎn jī yīn) — genetic modification

Definition

noun
genetic modification

Examples

  • 转基因。
    Hěn duō rén duì zhuǎn jī yīn shí pǐn de ān quán xìng yǒu yí wèn.
    Many people have questions about the safety of genetically modified food.
  • 转基因。
    Zhè xiàng zhuǎn jī yīn jì shù kě yǐ tí gāo nóng zuò wù de chǎn liàng.
    This genetic modification technology can increase crop yields.
  • 转基因。
    Kē xué jiā zhèng zài yán jiū xīn de zhuǎn jī yīn fāng fǎ.
    Scientists are researching new genetic modification methods.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

转zhuǎnchange
基因gene
基jībase因yīncause
偏正Modifier + head

转 (change) plus 基因 (gene) describes modifying genes.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 轉; 转 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
車車jūcarriage
Sound part声符shēngfú
專
專zhuān轉zhuǎn
Same sound today

The traditional form 轉 combines 車, a carriage, with 專 as a sound part; the simplified 转 is a later shorthand.

Open 转 →

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
土土tǔearth
Sound part声符shēngfú
其
其qí基jī
Same sound today

The lower 土 means earth, and the upper 其 gives the sound; together they form the idea of a foundation of earth.

Open 基 →

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

  • 囗囗wéisheet
  • 大大dàperson

Originally, 因 showed 大 (a person) on 囗 (a sheet or mattress).

Open 因 →

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