Definitions

(verb) to grow; to increase
(verb) to nourish
(noun) juice; taste

Etymology phono-semantic

water

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character "滋" originates from the concept of water enriching the land, as evidenced by its water radical on the left, which combines with the component "兹", historically associated with growth and proliferation. Its core meaning began with the literal act of moistening, watering, or causing something to grow, such as plants nurtured by river overflow. From this tangible foundation, its application broadened to encompass the process of nurturing or fostering more abstract things, like cultivating virtue or causing affairs to flourish. Subsequently, its semantic range expanded further to describe things that are produced or arise from such fertile conditions, leading to its modern use in words denoting flavor, as in "滋味" (taste or experience), or in describing phenomena that multiply and proliferate, sometimes even negatively as in "滋事" (to cause trouble). The traditional form of the character is identical to the one shown, maintaining its water radical alongside "兹".

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

这汤味很好。

Zhè tāng zīwèi hěn hǎo.

This soup tastes very good.

雨水润了大地。

Yǔshuǐ zīrùn le dàdì.

The rain moistened the earth.

牛奶养身体。

Niúnǎi zīyǎng shēntǐ.

Milk nourishes the body.

潮湿环境容易生细菌。

Cháoshī huánjìng róngyì zīshēng xìjūn.

Damp environments easily breed bacteria.

骄傲会长失败。

Jiāo'ào huì zīzhǎng shībài.

Pride can foster failure.

他喜欢在公众场合事。

Tā xǐhuān zài gōngzhòng chǎnghé zīshì.

He likes to cause trouble in public places.

良好的教育能育人的心灵。

Liánghǎo de jiàoyù néng zīyù rén de xīnlíng.

Good education can nourish the human spirit.

这种肥料能促进植物生新根。

Zhè zhǒng féiliào néng cùjìn zhíwù zīshēng xīn gēn.

This fertilizer can promote plants to grow new roots.