Chinese word

维生素

Pronunciation

Pinyinwéi shēng sù

Meaning

  • nounvitamin

Example

我每天都吃维生素。wǒ měi tiān dōu chī wéi shēng sù

I take vitamins every day.

Illustration for 维生素 (vitamin)

More examples

这道菜的维生素含量很高。zhè dào cài de wéi shēng sù hán liàng hěn gāo

This dish has a high vitamin content.

Core concept

A small helper that keeps the body's chemical machinery working and is obtained mainly through food or supplements.

Common phrases

  • 维生素含量wéi shēng sù hán liàng

    vitamin content

  • 富含维生素fù hán wéi shēng sù

    rich in vitamins

  • 维生素不足wéi shēng sù bù zú

    vitamin deficiency

Similar words

营养素yíng yǎng sù: A substance needed for growth, development, and healthy body function.
微量元素wēi liàng yuán sù: An inorganic element found in tiny amounts in the body that has an important biological role.
矿物质kuàng wù zhì: An inorganic substance needed to keep the body's functions healthy.

Definition in Chinese

指一类参与机体代谢、以微量存在但不可或缺的有机营养物质，多通过食物或补剂获得。zhǐ yí lèi cān yù jī tǐ dài xiè yǐ wēi liàng cún zài dàn bù kě huò quē de yǒu jī yíng yǎng wù zhì duō tōng guò shí wù huò bǔ jì huò dé

Word origin

The word 维生素 (wéishēngsù, "vitamin") combines 维 (wéi, "maintain"), 生 (shēng, "life"), and 素 (sù, "substance"), creating the image of a life-sustaining substance.

Usage tips

  • The Chinese noun stays unchanged when a sentence refers to vitamins in general or several kinds, while English often uses the plural form vitamins.

Related words

  • 维生素Awéi shēng sù Avitamin Anoun
  • 维生素Ewéi shēng sù Evitamin Enoun

Word lists with this word