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演化 (yǎn huà) — to evolve

Definition

演化 emphasizes the gradual change process, more neutral and general than 进化, which is reserved for biological evolution. Pairs with 演 more than 演变, which stresses development/transformation over time.

verb
to evolve

Examples

  • 演化。
    Dá ěr wén de jìn huà lùn rèn wéi wù zhǒng shì tōng guò zì rán xuǎn zé zhú jiàn yǎn huà de.
    Darwin's theory holds that species evolve gradually through natural selection.
  • 演化。
    Shǒu jī de wài guān shè jì zài jìn shí nián lǐ yǎn huà dé hěn kuài.
    The design of mobile phones has evolved rapidly in the past decade.
  • 演化。
    Xǔ duō yǔ yán dōu zài cháng qī shǐ yòng zhōng bú duàn yǎn huà.
    Many languages keep evolving through long-term use.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

演yǎndevelop
化huàchange

演 and 化 both mean to develop or change, so together they mean to evolve.

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
氵Written in full as水shuǐ
Sound part声符shēngfú
寅
寅yín演yǎn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

演 pairs 氵 (water) with 寅, which gives the sound yín.

Open 演 →

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

化 shows two person figures, one upright and one upside down, to give the idea of reversal or change.

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

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