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赡养 (shàn yǎng) — to support (one's elderly parents or relatives), esp. financially

Definition

赡养 is a formal verb meaning to financially support elderly parents or relatives, typically a legal/moral duty. Unlike 抚养 (raising children) or 养活 (general dependents), it is reserved for the older generation; 供养 overlaps closely but is broader.

verb
to support (one's elderly parents or relatives)esp. financially

Examples

  • 赡养。
    Měi gè zǐ nǚ dōu yīng gāi shàn yǎng nián mài de fù mǔ.
    Every child should support their elderly parents.
  • 赡养。
    shàn yǎng Fù mǔ shì yì zhǒng zé rèn.
    Supporting one's parents is a responsibility.
  • 赡养。
    Tā bú yuàn yì shàn yǎng zì jǐ de fù qīn.
    He is unwilling to support his own father.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

赡shànsupply
养yǎngsupport

赡 (supply) and 养 (support) combine to mean maintaining elderly relatives.

Characters in this word

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 養; 养 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 養 uses 羊 as a sound part and 食 as a meaning part.

Open 养 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Family & Kinship

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