Definition
殖 (shí) is a bound form (b.f.) — it only appears as part of compound words, never alone. Its two main senses are 'to reproduce/propagate' (繁殖 fánzhí 'to breed, to reproduce') and 'to colonize/settle' (殖民 zhímín 'to colonize, colony'). You'll also see it in 生殖 shēngzhí 'reproduction' and 殖民地 zhímíndì 'colony'. Because it's a bound form, every example below pairs it with another morpheme.
b.f.
(bound form) to reproduceto propagate(bound form) to colonizecolonial
Examples
- 。Tùzi fánshi de hěn kuài.Rabbits reproduce very quickly.
- 。Zhège dìqū céng shì Yīngguó shiímíndì.This area was once a British colony.
- 。Kēxuéjiā yánjiū xìbāo fánshi de guòchéng.Scientists study the process of cell reproduction.
Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.