HSK · Level 22
135 words
Chinese word
摇篮
Pronunciation
Pinyinyáo lán
Meaning
- nouncradle
Example
宝宝在摇篮里睡觉。báo bǎo zài yáo lán lǐ shuì jiào
The baby is sleeping in the cradle.
More examples
这所大学被誉为科技创新的摇篮。zhè suǒ dà xué bèi yù wéi kē jì chuàng xīn de yáo lán
This university is acclaimed as the cradle of technological innovation.
Core concept
A gently moving cradle that shelters early life and, by extension, a place where something begins and develops under care.
Common phrases
摇篮曲yáo lán qǔ
lullaby
婴儿的摇篮yīng ér de yáo lán
baby's cradle
Similar words
婴儿床yīng ér chuáng: A baby's small sleeping bed enclosed by rails or other protective sides.
Definition in Chinese
供婴儿安睡并通过轻微摇动安抚入睡的小床；引申指某种事物或人才成长的起点与培育环境。gōng yīng ér ān shuì bìng tōng guò qīng wēi yáo dòng ān fǔ rù shuì de xiǎo chuáng yǐn shēn zhǐ móu zhǒng shì wù huò rén cái chéng zhǎng de qí diǎn yǔ péi yù huán jìng
Word origin
摇 (yáo, "to rock") + 篮 (lán, "basket") describes a rocking basket used to settle a baby, and this concrete image extends naturally to an environment that fosters beginnings.
Usage tips
- The full word is a noun, while the verb meaning "to rock" is a separate use of its first character, so the compound does not describe an action.