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滋生 (zī shēng) — to breed, to generate (bacteria, conflicts, etc.); to grow (weeds, plants, especially unwanted)

Definition

滋生 is for things (bacteria, conflicts, weeds) that arise and spread on their own, often unwanted. Unlike 繁殖 (planned biological reproduction), it implies uncontrolled growth.

verb
to breedto generate (bacteria, conflicts, etc.)to grow (weeds, plants, especially unwanted)

Examples

  • 滋生。
    Cháo shī de tiān qì róng yì zī shēng méi jūn.
    Damp weather easily breeds mold.
  • 滋生。
    Bú xìn rèn huì zī shēng gèng duō de wù huì.
    Distrust breeds more misunderstandings.
  • 滋生。
    Zhè piàn huāng dì zī shēng le xǔ duō yě cǎo.
    This wasteland has grown many wild weeds.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

滋zīgenerate
生shēnggrow

滋 and 生 both mean to grow or generate, so together they mean to breed or flourish.

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shuǐ
Sound part声符shēngfú
茲
茲zī滋zī
Same sound today

滋 pairs 水 (water) with 茲, which gives it its sound.

Open 滋 →

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

生 shows 屮 (a bud) above 一 (the ground), drawing a sprout coming up from the earth.

Open 生 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Biology

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