HSK · Level 53
105 words
Chinese word
发育
Pronunciation
Pinyinfā yù
Meaning
- verbgrow
Example
婴儿发育得很好。yīng ér fā yù de hěn hǎo
The baby is growing well.
More examples
植物幼苗在适当光照下会继续发育。zhí wù yòu miáo zài shì dàng guāng zhào xià huì jì xù fā yù
The plant seedlings will continue to develop under suitable light.
Core concept
A living body gradually becomes larger, more complete, and more capable as its organs take shape and begin to work.
Common phrases
发育得很快fā yù de hěn kuài
develop very quickly
顺利发育shùn lì fā yù
develop smoothly
继续发育jì xù fā yù
continue to develop
Similar words
生长shēng zhǎng: Grow in physical size or height, as a person, animal, or plant.
成长chéng zhǎng: Grow more mature through age and experience, especially in mind or ability.
发展fā zhǎn: Develop further and become broader or more advanced in scope or condition.
增长zēng zhǎng: Become greater in quantity or intensity.
Definition in Chinese
生物体随着时间在体形、器官和功能上逐渐生长和完善的过程或变化。shēng wù tǐ suí zhe shí jiān zài tǐ xíng qì guān hé gōng néng shàng zhú jiàn shēng zhǎng hé wán shàn de guò chéng huò biàn huà
Word origin
发育 (fāyù, "to grow and develop") combines 发 (fā, "to emerge or expand") with 育 (yù, "to nurture and bring up"), joining emergence with growth toward maturity.
Usage tips
- In everyday Chinese, this verb is especially natural for babies, children, and bodily maturation, not for a company becoming larger or a plan becoming more advanced.
Other meanings
- developverb
Opposites
- 退化tuì huàdegenerateverb
Related words
- 生长发育shēng zhǎng fā yùgrowth and developmentnoun
- 发育指数fā yù zhǐ shùdevelopment indexnoun