领养 (lǐng yǎng) — to adopt (a child or pet) | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

领养 means to adopt a child or take in a stray animal — usually a permanent, legal act. The true near-synonym is 收养 (also adoption); the 采- words (采取/采用/采纳) are for adopting policies or methods, not children or pets.

verb

to adopt (a child or pet)

Examples

领养。
Tā men jué dìng lǐng yǎng yí gè gū ér.
They decided to adopt an orphan.
领养。
Tā lǐng yǎng le liǎng zhī liú làng gǒu.
She adopted two stray dogs.
领养。
lǐng yǎng Zhī qián yào tí jiāo hěn duō cái liào.
Adoption requires submitting a lot of documents.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

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

“领” (take) and “养” (raise) combine to mean take a child or pet into one's care.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 領; 领 is its simplified writing.

令頁領

Meaning part形符xíngfú

頁頁yè

Sound part声符shēngfú

令

令lìng領lǐng

Same sound today

The traditional form 領 has 令 as a sound part and 頁 as a meaning part; the simplified 领 is a later shorthand.

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.

羊羊yángsheep
食食shíto feed

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

Appears in

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