Definition
渗透 (shèn tòu) means 'to seep, permeate' for liquids and 'to infiltrate, penetrate' for ideas, products, or hostile forces. Unlike 潜入 (qián rù 'secretly infiltrate'), 渗透 can be gradual and open; unlike 沉浸 (chén jìn 'be immersed in an atmosphere'), 渗透 implies a spreading process. 渗 (shèn) alone is the simpler verb 'to seep/ooze', while 渗透 adds thorough permeation.
verb
to seepto permeate (of liquids)to infiltrateto penetrate (of ideas, products, hostile forces)(chemistry) to undergo osmosisosmosis
Examples
- 渗透。Yǔshuǐ mànmàn shèn tòu jìn tǔrǎng lǐ.Rainwater slowly seeps into the soil.
- 渗透。Zhè zhǒng wénhuà zhèngzài shèn tòu dào niánqīng rén de shēnghuó zhōng.This culture is permeating into the lives of young people.
- 渗透。Shuǐ tōngguò bàntòumó shèn tòu dào lìng yì biān.Water permeates through the semipermeable membrane to the other side.
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