产卵 (chǎn luǎn) — to lay eggs; to spawn (for fish and amphibians) | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

A biology-style verb meaning 'lay eggs' or 'spawn.' Used mainly for fish, amphibians, reptiles, and birds — not for mammals or humans.

verb

to lay eggsto spawn (for fish and amphibians)

Examples

产卵。
Hǎi guī měi nián dōu huì huí dào shā tān chǎn luǎn.
Sea turtles return to the beach every year to lay eggs.
。
Zhè tiáo yú yǐ jīng chǎn guò yí cì luǎn le.
This fish has already spawned once.
产卵。
Niǎo lèi zài chūn tiān chǎn luǎn.
Birds lay eggs in spring.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

产chǎnproduce

产 'produce' and 卵 'eggs' describe laying eggs.

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 產; 产 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

生生shēngto be born

Sound part声符shēngfú

彥

彥yàn產chǎn

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

The traditional form 產 pairs 生, "to be born," with 彥 as a sound part; the simplified 产 is a shorthand.

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

卵 comes from a picture of eggs or spawn.

Appears in

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.