增殖 (zēng zhí) — to proliferate; to multiply; to reproduce rapidly

Definition

Formal/scientific verb for rapid, often uncontrolled multiplication of cells, organisms, or capital. Pairs with 繁殖 (biological reproduction) but emphasizes quantitative increase rather than species propagation.

verb
to proliferateto multiplyto reproduce rapidly
Easily confused

Examples

  • 增殖。
    Zhè zhǒng xì bāo zài péi yǎng yè zhōng kuài sù zēng zhí.
    This type of cell proliferates rapidly in the culture medium.
  • 增殖。
    Guò dù bǔ lāo dǎo zhì yú lèi zī yuán wú fǎ zhèng cháng zēng zhí.
    Overfishing prevents fish stocks from multiplying normally.
  • 增殖。
    Qǐ yè tōng guò jì shù tóu zī shí xiàn le zī běn zēng zhí.
    The company achieved capital growth through technology investment.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

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

增zēngincrease
殖zhíbreed

增殖 combines 增 increase with 殖 breed, meaning 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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
土土tǔearth
Sound part声符shēngfú
曾
曾céng增zēng
Same sound today

增 uses 土 (earth) to show that things grow in earth or are built from earth, and uses 曾 for the sound. This gives the sense of adding or increasing.

Open 增 →

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
歹歹dǎi
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.

Open 殖 →

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