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衍生 (yǎn shēng) — to derive; to give rise to (from a source)

Definition

衍生 means 'to derive, to give rise to' — emphasizes a source or origin (a new thing grows out of an existing one), more abstract and formal than 引起 or 产生. Compare 汲取, which is the active sense 'to draw/derive' (lessons, strength) from a source.

verb
to deriveto give rise to (from a source)

Examples

  • 衍生。
    Zhè ge cí shì yóu lā dīng yǔ yǎn shēng ér lái de.
    This word is derived from Latin.
  • 衍生。
    Xīn de jì shù shì cóng chuán tǒng gōng yì zhōng yǎn shēng chū lái de.
    The new technology was derived from traditional craftsmanship.
  • 衍生。
    Zhè zhǒng huà hé wù shì cóng zhí wù zhōng yǎn shēng de.
    This compound is derived from plants.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

衍yǎnspread
生shēngproduce

衍 and 生 carry the ideas of spreading and producing, so 衍生 means to give rise to something.

Characters in this word

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

衍 is made from 行, a path or way to move, and 水, water.

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 7-9Abstract ConceptsChange & Process

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