Meanings of 養
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 養
Podcast: 養
Podcast: 養
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 養
养 (yǎng) vs 抚 (fǔ) — use 养 when referring to raising or providing for someone over a long period, while 抚 is more specific to nurturing or caring for someone, often in a more immediate or protective sense.
Learners often confuse 養 with other similar terms like 教 (jiào), which means 'to teach'. 養 is used in both formal and informal registers and is often paired with words like '孩子' (háizi, child) or '宠物' (chǒngwù, pet). Be mindful of the third tone in pronunciation to avoid misunderstandings.
Although 養 is not explicitly listed in HSK levels, it is relevant for learners at HSK 3 and above due to its use in everyday conversation. Focus on its application in familial and caregiving contexts, as well as its common collocations.
Learners often mistakenly use 養 in place of 照顾 (zhàogù, to take care of), which has a slightly different meaning. For example, saying '我养了他的健康' (Wǒ yǎngle tā de jiànkāng, I raised his health) is incorrect; the correct term would be '我照顾了他的健康' (I took care of his health).
Pronunciation of 養
Drill the tone of 養 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Etymology of 養
Simplified form of 養. Phonosemantic compound. 食 represents the meaning and 羊 represents the sound.
food
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 養
Simplified form of 養. Phonosemantic compound. 食 represents the meaning and 羊 represents the sound.
- 1The meaning half食 carries the sense.
- 2The sound half羊 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
- 3The giveawayfood
- 4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 養? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 養?
Decomposition of 養
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 養?
How to say to raise, to rear, to bring up; to support in Chinese
“to raise, to rear, to bring up; to support” in Chinese is養
The character 養 (yǎng) means 'to raise' or 'to rear', often used in the context of caring for children or animals. It can also imply providing support, both financially and emotionally, to someone in need. This term is commonly used in discussions about family responsibilities and nurturing.
When to use 養
Learners often confuse 養 with other similar terms like 教 (jiào), which means 'to teach'. 養 is used in both formal and informal registers and is often paired with words like '孩子' (háizi, child) or '宠物' (chǒngwù, pet). Be mindful of the third tone in pronunciation to avoid misunderstandings.
養 or something close to it
养 (yǎng) vs 抚 (fǔ) — use 养 when referring to raising or providing for someone over a long period, while 抚 is more specific to nurturing or caring for someone, often in a more immediate or protective sense.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mistakenly use 養 in place of 照顾 (zhàogù, to take care of), which has a slightly different meaning. For example, saying '我养了他的健康' (Wǒ yǎngle tā de jiànkāng, I raised his health) is incorrect; the correct term would be '我照顾了他的健康' (I took care of his health).
Write 養
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 養 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Word Family of 養
Compound Meaning
What does 养 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 養
養 refers to raising or nurturing someone, while 教 specifically means teaching. They often go hand-in-hand but focus on different aspects of upbringing.
Jason Recommends
Not sure what to learn after 養?
Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.