Definition
消化 (xiāohuà) means 'to digest' literally and 'to absorb/assimilate' figuratively, emphasizing the process of breaking down and internalizing (food or knowledge). It differs from 吸收 (xīshōu), which is a broader 'take in' (liquids, nutrients, members), and from 吸取 (xīqǔ), which focuses on drawing from a source (lessons, experience).
verb
to digest (food)(fig.) to absorbto assimilate (information, knowledge, etc.)
Easily confused
- 笑话xiào huasound-alike(noun) joke; jest
Examples
- 消化。Zhè zhǒng shíwù hěn nán xiāo huà.This kind of food is hard to digest.
- 消化。Tā xūyào shíjiān xiāo huà zhèxiē xīn zhīshi.He needs time to absorb this new knowledge.
- 消化。Wǒ hái méi wánquán xiāo huà lǎoshī jiǎng de nèiróng.I haven't fully digested what the teacher said.
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