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出生 (chū shēng) — to be born

Definition

出生 is a set phrase meaning 'to be born,' used for people and always about the event of birth itself. 生 by itself also means 'to be born' but more often means 'to give birth' or 'to produce.'

verb
to be born

Examples

  • 出生？
    Nǐ shì zài nǎ ge chéng shì chū shēng de?
    Which city were you born in?
  • 出生。
    Tā chū shēng zài yí gè xiǎo cūn zi lǐ.
    He was born in a small village.
  • 出生。
    Tā chū shēng de shí hou tiān qì hěn lěng.
    The weather was very cold when she was born.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

出chūcome out
生shēngbe born

出 and 生 both point to coming into existence, so together they mean to be born.

Characters in this word

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

出 combines 止 (foot) and 凵 (cave) to show a foot stepping out of a cave.

Open 出 →

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
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