襁褓 (qiǎng bǎo) — swaddling clothes; infancy (often metaphorical)

Definition

Literally the cloth wrappings for a newborn. Used figuratively in set phrases like 襁褓之中 to mean 'in one's infancy' — often for companies, projects, or early stages of anything.

noun
swaddling clothesinfancy (often metaphorical)
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 襁褓。
    Zhè ge hái zi hái zài qiǎng bǎo zhī zhōng.
    This child is still in infancy.
  • ,襁褓。
    Tā cóng xiǎo shī qù fù mǔ, zài qiǎng bǎo zhōng jiù bèi rén shōu yǎng le.
    He lost his parents early and was adopted while still a baby.
  • 襁褓。
    Zhè jiā gōng sī zài qiǎng bǎo jiē duàn jiù huò dé le tóu zī.
    This company received investment while still in its infancy.

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.

襁qiǎngswaddling clothes
褓bǎoswaddling clothes

襁 and 褓 both name swaddling clothes, so together they suggest infancy.

Characters in this word

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

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