灌输 (guàn shū) — to instill, inculcate, imbue (ideas, knowledge, values, etc.); (literal) to channel water for irrigation

Definition

灌输 is to instill or indoctrinate ideas/values into someone — one-sided and often implies the receiver didn't choose them. 教 is neutral everyday 'teach'; 传授 is more formal, focusing on passing down skills or knowledge.

verb
to instillinculcateimbue (ideas, knowledge, values, etc.)(literal) to channel water for irrigation

Examples

  • 灌输。
    Lǎo shī xiàng xué shēng guàn shū huán bǎo zhī shi.
    The teacher instills environmental knowledge into the students.
  • 灌输。
    Fù mǔ yīng gāi gěi hái zi guàn shū zhèng què de jià zhí guān.
    Parents should instill correct values in their children.
  • 灌输。
    Zhè zhǒng sī xiǎng bèi fǎn fù guàn shū dào nián qīng rén de tóu nǎo zhōng.
    This kind of thinking is repeatedly instilled into the minds of young people.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

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

灌guànpour/irrigate
输shūconvey

灌 means pour or irrigate, and 输 means convey; together they picture instilling ideas.

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
雚
雚guàn灌guàn
Same sound today

灌 pairs its water part with 雚, which gives the character its sound.

Open 灌 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 輸; 输 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
車車jū
Sound part声符shēngfú
俞
俞yú輸shū
Same sound today

The traditional form 輸 pairs 車 (vehicle) with 俞 for sound; 車 shows the meaning.

Open 输 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9School & Education

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