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收养 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
收养shōuyǎngto take in and care for (an elderly person, a dog etc)HSK 7, unknown, rank #3667, Hard
收养shōuyǎngto adopt (a child)HSK 7, unknown, rank #3667, Hard
收养shōuyǎngadoptionHSK 7, unknown, rank #3667, Hard
shōuyǎng(shou1yang3) T1
  1. 1to take in and care for (an elderly person, a dog etc)
  2. 2to adopt (a child)
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March 24, 2026
收养(收養)shōuyǎng(shou1yang3)

收养 (shōuyǎng) refers to the act of taking in and caring for someone or something that is not biologically related, such as adopting a child or caring for an elderly person or a pet. It conveys a sense of responsibility and nurturing, often used in both family and social contexts.

Frequency#3667DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of 收养 is significant, especially in traditional family structures where caring for the elderly is a valued responsibility. Adoption is also increasingly recognized and accepted in modern society.

Memory Tip

Think of 收 (shōu) as 'to receive' and 养 (yǎng) as 'to nurture'. Imagine receiving a child at your door and nurturing them into a loving family member, which helps you remember both the meaning and pronunciation.

Meanings of 收养

shōuyǎng(shou1yang3)
1to take in and care for (an elderly person, a dog etc)
2to adopt (a child)
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About 收养

收养Simplified
收養Traditional
Strokes
Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRC1

Podcast: 收养

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Podcast: 收养

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AI Study Notes for 收养

Quick Contrast

收养 (shōuyǎng) vs 领养 (lǐngyǎng): use 收养 for a broader sense of taking responsibility, while 领养 specifically refers to formal adoption.

Memory Mnemonic

Think of 收 (shōu) as 'to receive' and 养 (yǎng) as 'to nurture'. Imagine receiving a child at your door and nurturing them into a loving family member, which helps you remember both the meaning and pronunciation.

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 收养 with other similar terms like 养活 (yǎnghuó), which means to support someone financially. 收养 is more formal and used in contexts related to legal adoption or caregiving, while 养 can be informal and used for general care.

HSK Study Tips

As 收养 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, students should learn it alongside related words like 养 (yǎng) and 收 (shōu). Focus on the context of family and caregiving to understand its usage better.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of 收养 is significant, especially in traditional family structures where caring for the elderly is a valued responsibility. Adoption is also increasingly recognized and accepted in modern society.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 收养 with the verb 养 (yǎng), leading to incorrect phrases like '我收养狗' (wǒ shōuyǎng gǒu) instead of '我养狗' (wǒ yǎng gǒu) for 'I raise a dog'. Ensure you use 收养 only when referring to formal adoptions.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 收养

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Component Characters

shōuto receive
HSK 36 strokes
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yǎngto raise (animals)
HSK 39 strokes
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Write 收养

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Cultural Notes for 收养

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, the concept of 收养 is significant, especially in traditional family structures where caring for the elderly is a valued responsibility. Adoption is also increasingly recognized and accepted in modern society.

🌏Cross-cultural Insight

While adoption is a well-established practice in Western cultures, in China, it is often intertwined with familial duty and societal expectations, reflecting different cultural attitudes towards family and care.

Frequently Asked Questions about 收养

收养 (shōuyǎng) typically refers to a formal adoption, often with legal implications, while 领养 (lǐngyǎng) can imply taking in a pet or child informally.