饲 (sì) — to feed (animals)

Definition

饲 is a bound form meaning 'to feed (animals)', only seen in compound words like 饲料 ('feed/fodder') or paired with 喂. For the general 'feed' verb, use 喂.

bound form
to feed (animals)
Easily confused

Examples

  • 。
    Nóng mín yòng yù mǐ sì yǎng jī.
    The farmer feeds the chickens with corn.
  • 。
    Zhè zhǒng sì liào shì hé xiǎo gǒu chī.
    This type of feed is suitable for puppies.
  • 饲。
    Tā měi tiān àn shí sì wèi chǒng wù.
    He feeds his pets on time every day.

Origin

Sound + meaning
六书liùshū
形声xíngshēng

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 飼; 饲 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
食食shí
Sound part声符shēngfú
司
司sī飼sì
Same sound today

The traditional form 飼 uses 食 to connect the meaning to food and 司 to give the sound; the simplified 饲 is a later shorthand.

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