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进化 (jìn huà) — to evolve

Definition

进化 (jìnhuà) means biological evolution — the process by which species change over time. Unlike 演变 or 演化, which describe gradual change in general situations, 进化 specifically refers to evolution in the Darwinian, biological sense.

verb
to evolve
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 进化，。
    Zhè zhǒng niǎo jīng guò duō nián jìn huà, biàn chéng le xiàn zài de yàng zi.
    This bird evolved over many years into its current form.
  • 进化。
    Rén lèi shè huì zài bú duàn jìn huà.
    Human society is constantly evolving.
  • 进化。
    Zhè xiē jì shù hái huì jì xù jìn huà.
    These technologies will continue to evolve.

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.

进jìnadvance
化huàchange

进 gives advancing, and 化 gives change; together they express gradual development.

Characters in this word

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 進; 进 is its simplified writing.

  • 辵辵chuòwalk
  • 隹隹zhuīshort-tail bird

The traditional form 進 pairs 辵 (walk) with 隹 (short-tail bird): the picture showed moving forward because a bird can only walk forward, not backward. The simplified 进 is a later shorthand.

Open 进 →

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

化 shows two person figures, one upright and one upside down, to give the idea of reversal or change.

Open 化 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 6HSK 2.0 Level 6Biology

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