Definition
摇篮 has two main uses: literally, a baby's cradle — a small bed that can be rocked; and figuratively, the birthplace or origin of something important (like a civilization, movement, or idea). The figurative sense is very common in Chinese and appears in both formal and literary contexts.
noun
cradle (a baby's bed)cradlebirthplace (of a culture, civilization, etc.)
Examples
- 摇篮。Māma qīngqīng de bǎ bǎobao fàng jìn yáo lán li.Mom gently puts the baby into the cradle.
- 摇篮。Zhè zuò gǔ chéng shì dōngfāng wénhuà de yáo lán.This ancient city is the cradle of Eastern culture.
- 摇篮。Dàxué shì péiyǎng réncái de yáo lán.Universities are the cradle for cultivating talent.
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