滋生

zīshēng

verb HSK 7-9 #23,596

Meanings

1 to breed
2 to spawn
3 to give rise to
4 to cause to multiply

Characters

to grow / to multiply / to nourish

to produce / to give birth

Examples

HSK 6

污水容易滋生细菌。

Wūshuǐ róngyì zīshēng xìjūn.

Sewage easily breeds bacteria.

HSK 7-9

这种环境滋生了腐败。

Zhèzhǒng huánjìng zīshēng le fǔbài.

This environment gave rise to corruption.

HSK 7-9

积水会滋生蚊虫。

Jīshuǐ huì zīshēng wénchóng.

Standing water will breed mosquitoes.

Tips

usage

滋生 often carries a negative connotation - it implies something undesirable (bacteria, corruption, problems) multiplying or spreading. Compare with 繁殖, which is neutral and used for normal reproduction.

Stroke Order

滋 zī

生 shēng