Definition
引申 is a formal verb used in linguistics and rhetoric to describe the process by which a word's meaning is extended from its original sense to a related but broader or figurative sense. For example, the word 深 (shēn) originally meant 'deep' in a physical sense, but through 引申 it also means 'profound' or 'intense'. You'll encounter this term in academic discussions about word meaning and etymology.
v
to extend (the meaning of a word, an analogy, etc.)derivation (of a new sense from an original one)
Examples
- “”，引申“”。Zhège cí de běnyì shì “tàiyáng”, hòulái yǐn shēn chū “rìzi” de yìsi.The original meaning of this word is 'sun', and later it extended to mean 'day'.
- ，引申。Zài yǔyìxué zhōng, yǐn shēn shì cíyì biànhuà de zhòngyào fāngshì zhī yī.In semantics, extension is one of the important ways word meanings change.
- “”引申“”“”。“Xīn” cóng zhǐ xīnzàng yǐn shēn chū “nèixīn” “zhōngxīn” děng chōuxiàng hányì.The word 'heart' extended from referring to the physical organ to abstract meanings like 'inner feelings' and 'center'.
Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.