增生 (zēng shēng) — to proliferate; to multiply (especially of cells or tissues)

Definition

A technical/formal verb meaning 'to proliferate / multiply' — used in biology (cells, tissues, bacteria) and in writing to describe problems or things growing unchecked. More clinical and written than everyday 增多.

verb
to proliferateto multiply (especially of cells or tissues)

Examples

  • 增生。
    Zhè zhǒng xì bāo zài tǐ nèi hěn kuài zēng shēng.
    This type of cell proliferates quickly inside the body.
  • 增生。
    Xì jūn de zēng shēng sù dù fēi cháng kuài.
    The proliferation rate of bacteria is very fast.
  • 增生，。
    Wèn tí bú duàn zēng shēng, xū yào jǐn kuài jiě jué.
    Problems keep proliferating; they need to be resolved quickly.

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
生shēnggrow

增生 combines 增 increase with 生 grow, 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 →

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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