种群 (zhǒng qún) — population (of a species, in ecology) | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

Ecology term for a 'population' — all individuals of one species living in a given area. In everyday Chinese, 人口 is used for human populations; 种群 is reserved for biology and ecology.

noun

population (of a species, in ecology)

Examples

种群。
Zhè zhǒng zhǒng qún de shù liàng zhèng zài zhú jiàn jiǎn shǎo.
The population of this species is gradually decreasing.
种群。
Wǒ men xū yào yán jiū zhè ge qū yù de niǎo lèi zhǒng qún.
We need to study the bird population in this area.
种群。
Bǎo hù yě shēng zhǒng qún duì shēng tài píng héng fēi cháng zhòng yào.
Protecting wild populations is very important for ecological balance.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

种zhǒngspecies

种 is species and 群 is group, together naming a group of one species.

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.

禾中种

Meaning part形符xíngfú

禾禾hérice

Sound part声符shēngfú

中

中zhōng种zhǒng

Same sound today

种 pairs 禾, which shows rice or grain and fits meanings like plant and seed, with 中, which gives its sound.

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

君羊群

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

君

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

群 pairs 羊, a sheep, to point to a herd or group, with 君 giving the sound.

Appears in

Biology Environment & Ecology

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