Definition
染上 is a resultative verb compound (染 'to infect/dye' + 上 'up/onto') meaning 'to contract (a disease)' or 'to pick up (a habit, usually a bad one).' The complement 上 indicates successful acquisition. You can use it directly with an object (染上病/习惯), and it often pairs with 了 to mark completion: 染上了.
r.v.
to catch (a disease)to acquire (a habit, usually a bad one)
Examples
- 染上。Tā bù xiǎoxīn rǎn shǎng le gǎnmào.He carelessly caught a cold.
- 染上。Hěnduō háizi dōu rǎn shǎng le wán shǒujī de xíguàn.Many children have picked up the habit of playing with their phones.
- 染上。Zhège bìng hěn róngyì rǎn shǎng.This disease is very easy to catch.
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