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沾染 (zhān rǎn) — to be contaminated by; to be infected with (bad habits, bacteria, etc.); to gain a small advantage (by association)

Definition

A formal-written verb for being contaminated by or picking up something bad — bad habits (∼坏习惯) or bacteria. Unlike 感染, it stresses moral/behavioral taint, not disease.

verb
to be contaminated byto be infected with (bad habits, bacteria, etc.)to gain a small advantage (by association)

Examples

  • 沾染。
    Tā cóng xiǎo zhān rǎn le xī yān de huài xí guàn.
    He picked up the bad habit of smoking from a young age.
  • 沾染，。
    Shāng kǒu zhān rǎn le xì jūn, xū yào mǎ shàng xiāo dú.
    The wound has been infected with bacteria and needs to be disinfected immediately.
  • ，沾染。
    Tā gēn zhe lǎo bǎn zuò shēng yi, yě zhān rǎn le bù shǎo guāng.
    By doing business with the boss, he also gained quite a bit of advantage.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

沾zhāntouch
染rǎndye

“沾” and “染” both suggest picking something up, together meaning to become contaminated or acquire habits.

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
水水shuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
占
占zhàn沾zhān
Same sound today

The left part 水 is water, so the shape fits meanings like moisten and soak; the right part 占 gives the sound.

Open 沾 →

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

染 combines 氵 (water), 九 (hook), and 木 (tree): something hung on a hook from a tree into water to dye it.

Open 染 →
Appears in
Abstract ConceptsIllness & Symptoms

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