Chinese word

变异

Pronunciation

Pinyinbiàn yì

Meaning

  • nounmutation

Example

这种细菌已经发生了变异。zhè zhǒng xì jūn yǐ jīng fā shēng le biàn yì

This bacterium has already mutated.

Illustration for 变异 (mutation)

More examples

一些癌细胞因变异对治疗产生耐药性。yì xiē ái xì bāo yīn biàn yì duì zhì liáo chǎn shēng nài yào xìng

Some cancer cells have developed resistance to treatment because of mutations.

Core concept

A new difference that appears inside an otherwise shared family or system.

Common phrases

  • 基因变异jī yīn biàn yì

    genetic mutation

  • 病毒变异bìng dú biàn yì

    viral mutation

  • 出现变异chū xiàn biàn yì

    mutation occurs

Similar words

变化biàn huà: A change from one form, condition, or appearance to another.
差异chā yì: A noticeable difference between things or features.

Definition in Chinese

指在同一体系中出现与常态不同的形式或差别，既可指生物的变异，也可指语言、文化、产品等方面的偏离。zhǐ zài tóng yì tǐ xì zhōng chū xiàn yǔ cháng tài bù tóng de xíng shì huò chā bié jì kě zhǐ shēng wù de biàn yì yě kě zhǐ yǔ yán wén huà chán pǐn děng fāng miàn de piān lí

Word origin

The pairing of 变 (biàn, "change") and 异 (yì, "different") presents difference as something produced by change rather than as an unrelated type.

Usage tips

  • The word is neutral in many non-biological contexts, where it can describe a different form without suggesting that the form is bad or defective.

Other meanings

  • variantnoun

Opposites

Related words

  • 变异株biàn yì zhūvariant strainnoun
  • 变异基因biàn yì jī yīnmutant genenoun
  • 变异体biàn yì tǐmutantnoun

Word lists with this word