养 (yǎng) - To raise, rear, cultivate, support & to provide for

养Tone 3

yǎng ｜ 9 strokes ｜ radical:

嬿一

养 · yǎng

To raise, rear, cultivate, support;

to provide for;

to grow, develop;

to nurture.

To raise, rear, cultivate, supportto provide forto grow, develop

Usage highlights

Raise childrenKeep petsCultivate flowersSupport a familyNourish the bodyRecuperate health

Synonyms

  • 育— To nurture, rear, educate
  • 饲— To raise, feed (animals)
  • 培— To cultivate, foster, train

Antonyms

  • 弃— To abandon, discard
  • 毁— To destroy, damage
  • 耗— To consume, deplete

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • She raises two children (养两个孩子).
  • We keep a dog as a pet (养狗).
  • He cultivates flowers in the garden (养花).
  • This job supports the family (养家).
  • Good habits nurture health (养好习惯).

Collocations

  • Raise children(养孩子)
  • Keep pets(养宠物)
  • Cultivate flowers(养花)
  • Support a family(养家)
  • Nourish the body(养身)
  • Recuperate health(养病)

Idioms

  • Cultivate one's moral character and mind(修身养性)
  • Live in seclusion to cultivate oneself(韬光养晦)
  • Provide for one's parents in their old age(养老送终)
  • Accumulate strength and bide one's time(养精蓄锐)
  • Keep a tiger to court calamity(养虎为患)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Central to Confucian family ethics, particularly filial piety (xiao) — children have a duty to support parents in old age (养老).
  • Reflects traditional emphasis on self-cultivation and moral refinement as seen in terms like 修养.
  • Historically linked to agrarian society where cultivation (养) of crops and livestock was essential for survival.

FAQ