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A2 verb #7,000 most common 10 min read

喂养

weiyang Top 7,000

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips 喂养 in 30 Seconds

Explanation 喂养 in your Level:

At the A1 level, you should focus on the most basic meaning of 喂养 (wèiyǎng): 'to feed an animal.' While A1 learners usually start with the single character 喂 (wèi), adding 养 (yǎng) helps you talk about the routine of having a pet. Think of it as 'feed + keep.' For example, if you have a cat, you don't just feed it once; you 喂养 it every day. At this level, keep your sentences simple: 'I feed the dog' (我喂养小狗). Don't worry about the complex nuances; just remember it's for animals and babies. It is a very useful word for talking about your hobbies or your daily life at home. You can use it to describe what you do for your 'family members' who happen to have four legs. Remember the mouth radical in 喂 – it's all about putting food in a mouth!

At the A2 level, you begin to use 喂养 (wèiyǎng) to describe responsibilities and routines. You can start using adverbs like '每天' (every day) or '定时' (at fixed times) to describe how you care for pets or livestock. This is also the level where you might encounter the word in simple texts about nature or family life. You should understand that 喂养 is a bit more 'serious' than just 喂. If you 喂养 something, you are its caretaker. You might see this on pet food packaging or in basic stories about farmers. A typical A2 sentence would be: '他每天喂养他的猫' (He feeds and raises his cat every day). You should also be able to distinguish between 'raising' a pet and 'raising' a plant (which uses a different word).

By B1, you should be comfortable using 喂养 (wèiyǎng) in more varied contexts, including discussions about childcare and animal welfare. You will start to see the word used in compound phrases like '喂养方式' (feeding methods) or '人工喂养' (artificial feeding/bottle feeding). You should be able to explain the difference between 喂养 and 饲养 (sìyǎng - often used for farm animals or in technical contexts). B1 learners should also be able to use the word in the passive voice, for example, discussing how a stray animal was 'fed and raised' by a community. Your vocabulary is expanding, so you can now use 喂养 to talk about the 'cost' of raising a pet (喂养费) or the 'difficulties' of feeding a newborn baby.

At the B2 level, you can use 喂养 (wèiyǎng) in more formal or semi-technical discussions. This includes topics like scientific research on animal nutrition or public health debates about breastfeeding (母乳喂养) versus formula. You should understand the nuance that 喂养 implies a nurturing relationship, whereas 饲养 is more clinical. You might encounter this word in news reports about wildlife conservation, where experts discuss the challenges of 喂养 endangered species. You can also start to use the word in slightly more abstract ways, such as 'feeding' a habit or a small interest, though this is still mostly literal at this stage. You should be able to write a short essay about the responsibilities of pet ownership using this term correctly.

At the C1 level, you are expected to understand and use the metaphorical extensions of 喂养 (wèiyǎng). In literature and sophisticated commentary, authors might speak of 'feeding' the soul with art, 'feeding' a nation's curiosity, or 'feeding' a flame of revolution. You should appreciate the poetic weight the word carries when applied to abstract concepts. Furthermore, you should be able to discuss the sociological implications of feeding—how different cultures approach the act of 喂养 and what it says about their values. You can handle complex grammatical structures where 喂养 is part of a longer descriptive clause. You should also be very clear on the legal distinctions between 喂养 (nutritional care) and 抚养 (legal and total upbringing).

At the C2 level, your mastery of 喂养 (wèiyǎng) should be near-native. you can use it to discuss philosophical concepts of sustenance and growth. You might analyze how a particular ideology is 'fed and raised' by certain historical conditions. You can use the word in high-level academic writing, perhaps in a paper on child development or agricultural history, with perfect precision. You understand the deep etymological roots of the characters and can play with the word in creative writing to evoke a sense of primal care or dependency. At this level, you don't just know the word; you feel the 'weight' of the responsibility it implies every time you use it. You can distinguish the finest shades of meaning between it and every possible synonym in the Chinese language.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

喂养 in 30 Seconds

To feed and raise animals or babies.
Implies a long-term nurturing responsibility.
Commonly used for pets, livestock, and infants.
Combines the physical act of feeding with the concept of caretaking.

The Chinese verb 喂养 (wèiyǎng) is a compound word that carries a deeper significance than the simple English verb 'to feed.' To understand this word, we must look at its two components: 喂 (wèi), which refers to the physical act of putting food into a mouth or giving food to an animal, and 养 (yǎng), which means to raise, nurture, or provide for someone or something over a long period. Together, 喂养 describes the holistic process of sustaining life through regular feeding and consistent care. It is most commonly applied to pets, livestock, and infants, emphasizing the dependency of the subject on the caregiver.

Core Concept: The act of providing nutritional sustenance as part of a broader responsibility to keep an organism alive and healthy.
Primary Subjects: Domesticated animals (dogs, cats, rabbits), farm animals (pigs, chickens), and human babies (especially regarding breastfeeding or formula).
Emotional Nuance: It implies a sense of duty and nurturing. It is not just about the transaction of food, but the growth and survival of the being being fed.

他每天早起去喂养农场里的那些小羊。
(He wakes up early every day to feed and raise the lambs on the farm.)

In modern urban contexts, you will frequently hear this word when people discuss their pets. If you own a cat, you are not just 'giving it food' (给吃的); you are 喂养 the cat. This implies you are responsible for its dietary health and overall well-being. Furthermore, in the context of childcare, 喂养 is the standard term for the nutritional management of infants, such as in the phrase 母乳喂养 (mǔrǔ wèiyǎng), which means breastfeeding. It suggests a scientific or deliberate approach to nutrition.

科学喂养对婴儿的成长至关重要。
(Scientific feeding and nurturing are crucial for an infant's growth.)

Historically, the term was heavily associated with agriculture. In a traditional Chinese village, 喂养 livestock was a daily chore that determined the survival of the family. Today, while the agricultural meaning remains, the word has migrated into the 'pet economy,' appearing in advertisements for high-end pet food and veterinary advice. It suggests a level of care that goes beyond the bare minimum, focusing on quality and health. When you use this word, you are highlighting the relationship between the provider and the dependent being.

Formal vs. Informal: It is a neutral to formal term. In very casual speech, people might just use '喂' (to feed), but '喂养' is preferred in discussions about caregiving habits or professional animal husbandry.

这些流浪猫是由附近的邻居共同喂养的。
(These stray cats are collectively fed and cared for by the neighbors.)

Using 喂养 (wèiyǎng) correctly requires understanding its grammatical placement as a transitive verb. It typically follows the pattern: Subject + 喂养 + Object. The object is almost always a living being that cannot provide food for itself. Let's explore the various grammatical environments where this word thrives.

Simple Present/Habitual Action: Used to describe a routine of care. For example: '我负责喂养这只兔子' (I am responsible for feeding and raising this rabbit).

由于工作太忙，他没有时间喂养宠物。
(Because he is too busy with work, he doesn't have time to feed and raise a pet.)

The word can also be modified by adverbs to describe the manner of feeding. Adverbs like 精心 (jīngxīn - meticulously), 人工 (réngōng - manually/artificially), or 定时 (dìngshí - at fixed times) often precede 喂养 to provide more detail about the care being provided.

Adverbial Modification: Example: '精心喂养' (to feed and raise with great care). This is common in literature or when describing a beloved pet.

这只小猫在主人的精心喂养下，很快就恢复了健康。
(Under the owner's meticulous feeding and care, this kitten quickly regained its health.)

In passive constructions, 喂养 is often used with 由 (yóu - by) or 被 (bèi - passive marker). This is particularly useful when discussing the source of care for orphans or stray animals. For instance, '这只幼虎是由人工喂养大的' (This tiger cub was raised by hand/artificial feeding).

动物园里的企鹅每天由专人定时喂养。
(The penguins in the zoo are fed and cared for by specialists at fixed times every day.)

Finally, 喂养 can be used metaphorically in advanced literature to describe 'feeding' an abstract concept, such as a soul, an obsession, or a culture. While this is less common at the A2 level, it is a powerful way to use the word in C1/C2 contexts. For example, '用知识喂养心灵' (Feeding the soul with knowledge).

Compound Phrases: 1. 喂养费 (wèiyǎngfèi) - Cost of feeding/upkeep.
2. 喂养方式 (wèiyǎng fāngshì) - Method of feeding/raising.

我们需要改变传统的喂养方式来提高家畜的产量。
(We need to change traditional feeding methods to improve livestock yield.)

If you are living in a Chinese-speaking environment, you will encounter 喂养 (wèiyǎng) in several specific domains. Understanding these contexts will help you distinguish it from similar words like 养 (yǎng) or 饲养 (sìyǎng). The most common place is within the domestic sphere, specifically regarding pets and infants.

The Pet Shop & Veterinary Clinic: When you visit a vet, they might ask about your '喂养习惯' (feeding habits). They are not just asking what you give the dog, but how often, how much, and what the long-term routine looks like.

医生建议我减少喂养次数，因为我的狗太胖了。
(The doctor suggested I reduce the frequency of feeding because my dog is too fat.)

Another major context is Parenting and Maternal Health. In hospitals and on parenting forums (like Little Red Book or WeChat groups), 喂养 is the clinical and standard term for infant nutrition. You will see articles titled '如何科学喂养新生儿' (How to scientifically feed and raise a newborn). It sounds more professional and caring than just saying '给宝宝吃饭' (giving the baby food).

纪录片展示了企鹅在严寒中喂养幼崽的过程。
(The documentary shows the process of penguins feeding and raising their young in the extreme cold.)

In rural or agricultural settings, 喂养 is used for livestock. However, there is a subtle shift here: 饲养 (sìyǎng) is often used for large-scale industrial farming, while 喂养 feels more personal, like a farmer tending to their own animals. If a farmer says they are 喂养 a pig, it suggests a daily, hands-on connection to that animal's growth.

Social Media & Blogs: You will see hashtags like #宠物喂养 (Pet Feeding/Raising) or #科学喂养 (Scientific Nurturing) on platforms like Weibo. These posts often contain tips on nutrition and care.

在社交媒体上，有很多关于如何喂养名贵猫种的建议。
(On social media, there are many suggestions on how to feed and raise expensive cat breeds.)

Finally, you might hear this word in a Legal or Social Work context. If a child is neglected, the authorities might discuss the '喂养状况' (feeding/nutritional status) of the child. Here, it is a serious term used to evaluate the basic level of care provided by guardians. It covers the fundamental right of a dependent to receive sustenance.

While 喂养 (wèiyǎng) seems straightforward, English speakers often make errors based on direct translations of 'to feed.' Here are the most frequent pitfalls and how to avoid them.

Mistake 1: Using it for adults: In English, you can 'feed a crowd' or 'feed your family.' In Chinese, 喂养 implies the recipient is helpless. Using it for your husband or a friend sounds like you are treating them like a baby or an animal. For adults, use '做饭给...吃' (cook for...) or '供养' (provide for/support financially).

❌ 我每天喂养我的丈夫。
✅ 我每天做饭给丈夫吃。
(I cook for my husband every day.)

Another common error is confusing 喂养 with 饲养 (sìyǎng). While they both mean to feed and raise, 饲养 is more clinical, industrial, or technical. You '饲养' livestock for profit or '饲养' laboratory animals. 喂养 has more warmth and is better for pets and babies.

Mistake 2: Incorrect Object Type: Do not use 喂养 for plants. In English, you might 'feed' a plant with fertilizer. In Chinese, you '养' (raise/grow) a plant or '施肥' (apply fertilizer). You cannot '喂' a plant because it doesn't have a mouth (口).

❌ 他在喂养花园里的花。
✅ 他在给花园里的花施肥。
(He is fertilizing the flowers in the garden.)

Finally, watch out for the grammatical structure. 喂养 is a 'verb + verb' compound that acts as a single unit. You don't usually split it. Beginners sometimes try to put the object between '喂' and '养', which is incorrect. It is always '喂养 + [Animal/Baby]'.

Mistake 3: Overusing it for simple acts: If you are just throwing a piece of bread to a bird in the park once, use '喂' (to feed). 喂养 implies a long-term commitment to that bird's growth. Use the simpler '喂' for one-off actions.

❌ 我在公园喂养鸽子。
✅ 我在公园喂鸽子。
(I am feeding the pigeons in the park.)

Chinese has a rich vocabulary for the concept of 'raising' and 'feeding.' Choosing the right word depends on what you are raising and how you are doing it. Let's compare 喂养 (wèiyǎng) with its closest relatives.

喂养 vs. 喂 (wèi): 喂: The simple act of feeding. It's a one-time action. '我喂了猫' (I fed the cat).
喂养: The long-term process of feeding and raising. It implies responsibility for the creature's life.

喂是动作，喂养是责任。
(Feeding is an action; feeding and raising is a responsibility.)

Next, we have 饲养 (sìyǎng). This is the most common word confused with 喂养. The difference lies in the 'vibe.' 饲养 sounds like animal husbandry, farming, or laboratory work. It is more objective and less emotional. You '饲养' 500 chickens, but you '喂养' your pet dog.

喂养 vs. 饲养 (sìyǎng): 饲养: Technical, commercial, or large-scale. Used for livestock (pigs, cows) or zoo animals in a professional capacity.
喂养: Personal, nurturing, and domestic. Used for pets and babies.

农民喂养他的小猪，而工厂饲养成千上万只鸡。
(The farmer feeds and raises his piglet, while the factory raises thousands of chickens.)

For human children beyond the infant stage, we use 抚养 (fǔyǎng). This word encompasses not just food, but education, emotional support, and legal guardianship. You '喂养' a baby (focusing on milk/food), but you '抚养' a child until they are 18. If you use '喂养' for a teenager, it sounds like you are just keeping them in a cage and giving them food.

喂养 vs. 抚养 (fǔyǎng): 抚养: To bring up/rear a child. Includes all aspects of parenting.
喂养: Specifically refers to the nutritional aspect of raising an infant or animal.

父母不仅要喂养孩子，更要抚养他们成人。
(Parents must not only feed their children but raise them to adulthood.)

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

The character '养' (yǎng) contains the component for 'sheep' (羊). In ancient China, sheep were a primary source of food and wealth, so 'raising' things was visually associated with tending to sheep.

Pronunciation Guide

UK wèi yǎng

US wèi yǎng

The stress is equal on both syllables, but the tones provide the rhythmic structure.

Rhymes With

背养 (bèiyǎng) 对仗 (duìzhàng) 退让 (tuìràng) 贵养 (guìyǎng) 内养 (nèiyǎng) 泪汪 (lèiwāng) 味赏 (wèishǎng) 惠养 (huìyǎng)

Common Errors

Pronouncing 'wèi' with a rising tone (like a question).
Pronouncing 'yǎng' as 'yang' without the dipping tone.
Confusing 'wèi' with 'wéi' (second tone).
Merging the two sounds into one syllable.
Using the English 'w' sound too softly; it should be clear.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 2/5

The characters are relatively simple but the compound is specific to certain contexts.

Writing 3/5

The character '喂' has many strokes and requires practice to balance.

Speaking 2/5

Easy to pronounce if you master the 4th and 3rd tones.

Listening 2/5

Distinctive sound, unlikely to be confused with other common words.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

喂 (to feed) 养 (to raise) 吃 (to eat) 动物 (animal) 孩子 (child)

Learn Next

饲养 (to breed livestock) 抚养 (to raise a child) 营养 (nutrition) 健康 (health) 责任 (responsibility)

Advanced

哺育 (to nurture) 反哺 (to repay care) 赡养 (to support elders) 栽培 (to cultivate)

Grammar to Know

Resultative Complements with 喂养

他把小猫喂养大了。(He raised the kitten to adulthood.)

Adverbial Placement

我们要精心喂养这些植物。(Wait, plants use 养, not 喂养. Correct: 我们要精心喂养这些幼崽。)

Passive '由' Structure

这些动物由专业的兽医喂养。

Duration of Action

他喂养这只猫喂养了十年。

Serial Verb Construction

他每天去超市买肉喂养狗。

Examples by Level

我喂养我的猫。

I feed and raise my cat.

Simple Subject-Verb-Object.

他喂养小狗。

He feeds the puppy.

Noun '小狗' is the object.

你喂养什么动物？

What animal do you feed and raise?

Interrogative sentence.

我不喂养鸟。

I don't feed birds.

Negative '不' before the verb.

妹妹喂养兔子。

Little sister feeds the rabbit.

Family member as subject.

我们要喂养它。

We need to feed it.

Auxiliary '要' indicates need.

你在喂养它吗？

Are you feeding it?

Present continuous with '在'.

爷爷喂养鸡。

Grandpa feeds the chickens.

Agricultural context.

他每天定时喂养他的宠物。

He feeds his pet at fixed times every day.

Adverbial '定时' (at fixed times).

喂养一只狗需要很多时间。

Feeding and raising a dog takes a lot of time.

The verb phrase acts as a subject.

你应该用这种食物喂养它。

You should use this food to feed it.

Using '用...喂养' structure.

她很喜欢喂养流浪猫。

She likes feeding stray cats very much.

Object is '流浪猫' (stray cats).

这些小羊是由谁喂养的？

Who are these lambs fed and raised by?

Passive-like structure with '由...喂养'.

我不知道怎么喂养这只小鸟。

I don't know how to feed and raise this little bird.

Interrogative '怎么' + verb.

喂养宠物是我的爱好。

Feeding and raising pets is my hobby.

Verb phrase as a noun/subject.

爸爸在农场喂养牛。

Dad is feeding cows on the farm.

Locative '在农场' before the verb.

科学的喂养方式对宠物健康很重要。

A scientific feeding method is very important for pet health.

Noun phrase '喂养方式'.

这只幼虎是被人工喂养大的。

This tiger cub was raised by hand (artificial feeding).

Passive '被...喂养大的'.

母乳喂养对婴儿有很多好处。

Breastfeeding has many benefits for infants.

'母乳喂养' is a set term.

由于主人精心喂养，这只猫长得很壮。

Because the owner fed and raised it meticulously, the cat grew very strong.

Adverb '精心' (meticulously).

你需要支付一定的喂养费。

You need to pay a certain feeding/upkeep fee.

Compound noun '喂养费'.

如果不按时喂养，动物会生病。

If not fed on time, animals will get sick.

Conditional '如果...就' (implied).

他学习了如何喂养名贵的鱼。

He learned how to feed and raise expensive fish.

Complex object phrase.

这种鸟主要通过喂养昆虫来生存。

This kind of bird mainly survives by being fed/feeding on insects.

Using '通过...来' structure.

动物园致力于研究濒危动物的喂养与繁殖。

The zoo is dedicated to researching the feeding and breeding of endangered animals.

Formal academic context.

在野外，母鸟会轮流喂养幼雏。

In the wild, mother birds take turns feeding the chicks.

Adverbial '轮流' (taking turns).

长期不当的喂养会导致家畜发育不良。

Long-term improper feeding can lead to malnutrition in livestock.

Abstract noun usage.

医生强调了混合喂养的注意事项。

The doctor emphasized the precautions for mixed feeding.

'混合喂养' (mixed feeding - breast and bottle).

为了保护生态，我们不应随意喂养野生动物。

To protect the ecology, we should not feed wild animals randomly.

Formal '不应' (should not).

该实验室专门负责喂养实验用的小白鼠。

This lab is specifically responsible for feeding and raising laboratory mice.

Professional responsibility.

喂养这些大型哺乳动物需要极高的成本。

Feeding and raising these large mammals requires extremely high costs.

Subject is a long verb phrase.

通过改变喂养配方，肉质得到了提升。

By changing the feeding formula, the meat quality was improved.

Technical '喂养配方'.

他用一生的热情喂养着那个遥不可及的梦想。

He fed that unreachable dream with a lifetime of passion.

Metaphorical usage.

这种文化环境喂养出了一代具有批判精神的青年。

This cultural environment nurtured a generation of critical-thinking youth.

Metaphorical 'nurturing' of people.

贪婪往往是由无止境的欲望喂养出来的。

Greed is often fed by endless desire.

Abstract passive construction.

作家需要用大量的阅读来喂养自己的创作灵感。

Writers need to feed their creative inspiration with extensive reading.

Metaphorical 'feeding' of inspiration.

在那个匮乏的年代，他靠喂养几只山羊维持生计。

In those years of scarcity, he made a living by raising a few goats.

Historical/Literary context.

这种社交媒体算法实际上是在喂养人们的偏见。

This social media algorithm is actually feeding people's biases.

Modern metaphorical context.

她悉心喂养着那些脆弱的希望，不让它们熄灭。

She carefully fed those fragile hopes, not letting them go out.

Poetic usage.

过度喂养不仅对身体有害，也是一种资源的浪费。

Overfeeding is not only harmful to the body but also a waste of resources.

Sociological/Ethical discussion.

历史的巨轮由无数无名者的血汗所喂养。

The great wheel of history is fed by the blood and sweat of countless anonymous people.

High literary metaphor.

这种极端的思想在贫困与仇恨的土壤中被喂养壮大。

This extreme ideology was fed and grew strong in the soil of poverty and hatred.

Philosophical/Political analysis.

艺术家应当警惕，不要让名利喂养了自己的虚荣心。

Artists should be wary not to let fame and fortune feed their vanity.

Moralistic/Reflective usage.

孤独感有时会自我喂养，让人陷入无尽的深渊。

Loneliness sometimes feeds itself, leading one into an endless abyss.

Psychological abstraction.

大自然以其博大的胸怀喂养着万物，不求回报。

Nature feeds all things with its broad bosom, asking for nothing in return.

Personification of nature.

这些古老的传说是由代代相传的口头文学喂养至今的。

These ancient legends have been fed to the present day by oral literature passed down through generations.

Metaphor for cultural survival.

权力如果缺乏制约，就会喂养出暴政的怪兽。

If power lacks constraints, it will feed the monster of tyranny.

Political philosophy.

在精神的荒原上，他唯有用孤独来喂养自己的灵魂。

In the wasteland of the spirit, he could only feed his soul with solitude.

Existentialist metaphor.

Common Collocations

人工喂养

母乳喂养

精心喂养

定时喂养

科学喂养

喂养成本

混合喂养

共同喂养

喂养习惯

喂养经验

Common Phrases

喂养宠物

— To raise and feed a pet. This is the most common use in daily life.

喂养宠物可以培养孩子的责任感。

喂养婴儿

— To feed and nurture an infant. Often used in medical or parenting contexts.

喂养婴儿需要极大的耐心。

喂养家禽

— To raise and feed poultry like chickens or ducks.

奶奶每天早起去喂养家禽。

喂养牲畜

— To raise and feed livestock such as cattle or sheep.

干旱使得喂养牲畜变得非常困难。

由于喂养不当

— Due to improper feeding/raising. Often used to explain health issues.

由于喂养不当，金鱼很快就死了。

负责喂养

— To be responsible for feeding/raising.

在动物园，我负责喂养大象。

正在喂养

— Currently feeding/raising.

母猫正在喂养它的小猫。

喂养大的

— Raised from small to large through feeding.

这只狗是我从小喂养大的。

停止喂养

— To stop feeding/raising.

手术前必须停止喂养宠物。

过量喂养

— To overfeed.

过量喂养会导致宠物过度肥胖。

Often Confused With

喂养 vs 饲养

Sìyǎng is more for industrial or farming contexts. Wèiyǎng is more personal/nurturing.

喂养 vs 抚养

Fǔyǎng is for raising children (includes education/legal care). Wèiyǎng is for feeding babies/animals.

喂养 vs 培养

Péiyǎng is for cultivating skills, habits, or plants. It doesn't imply feeding with a mouth.

Idioms & Expressions

"嗷嗷待哺"

— To cry out piteously for food (like chicks in a nest). Describes people or animals in desperate need of 喂养.

灾民们嗷嗷待哺，急需救援。

Literary

"养儿防老"

— To raise children to provide for one in old age. Uses 养, the root of 喂养.

在古代，人们普遍相信养儿防老。

Traditional

"反哺之情"

— The sentiment of a young crow feeding its parents. Relates to the cycle of feeding.

我们应当对父母有反哺之情。

Formal

"养虎为患"

— To rear a tiger and cause trouble for oneself. Nurturing something dangerous.

纵容坏人无异于养虎为患。

Common

"娇生惯养"

— Pampered and spoiled since childhood. Relates to 'raising' (养).

这个孩子娇生惯养，一点苦都吃不了。

Common

"成家立业"

— To get married and start a career. Relates to the stage after being raised.

父母希望他能早日成家立业。

Common

"含辛茹苦"

— To endure hardships in raising children.

母亲含辛茹苦地将我们兄弟三人喂养大。

Emotional

"衣食父母"

— Those whom one depends on for a living (literally 'clothing and food parents').

顾客就是我们的衣食父母。

Business

"推食解衣"

— To give up one's own food and clothing to help others. The ultimate act of providing sustenance.

他这种推食解衣的精神令人感动。

Literary

"茹毛饮血"

— To eat hair and drink blood (living like a primitive beast). The opposite of civilized 喂养.

远古时代，人类过着茹毛饮血的生活。

Historical

Easily Confused

喂养 vs 喂

Both mean 'to feed.'

喂 is the simple action. 喂养 is the long-term process and responsibility of raising.

我今天喂了狗，但我喂养了它五年。

喂养 vs 养

Both mean 'to raise.'

养 is a general term for plants, animals, and people. 喂养 specifically includes the act of feeding.

我养花，但我喂养狗。

喂养 vs 饲养

Both are used for animals.

饲养 is professional/technical (zoos, farms). 喂养 is personal/domestic (pets, babies).

动物园饲养狮子，我喂养猫。

喂养 vs 抚养

Both are used for young beings.

抚养 is for children (legal/holistic). 喂养 is for babies/animals (nutritional).

他抚养孤儿，并细心喂养他们。

喂养 vs 供养

Both mean providing for someone.

供养 is for elders or superiors, showing respect. 喂养 is for dependents (babies/animals).

他供养父母，喂养孩子。

Sentence Patterns

我喂养 [Animal].

我喂养小猫。

[Subject] 每天定时喂养 [Object].

他每天定时喂养他的狗。

[Object] 是由 [Person] 喂养的。

这只鸟是由我喂养的。

通过 [Method] 来喂养 [Object]。

通过人工方式来喂养幼虎。

用 [Abstract Noun] 喂养 [Abstract Noun]。

用知识喂养心灵。

[Subject] 在 [Context] 中被喂养壮大。

仇恨在贫困中被喂养壮大。

[Subject] 负责喂养 [Object]。

妈妈负责喂养弟弟。

喂养 [Object] 很有趣。

喂养兔子很有趣。

Word Family

Nouns

喂养者 (wèiyǎngzhě - feeder/caretaker)

喂养费 (wèiyǎngfèi - cost of feeding)

喂养量 (wèiyǎngliàng - amount of feed)

Verbs

喂 (wèi - to feed)

养 (yǎng - to raise)

饲养 (sìyǎng - to breed/raise livestock)

Adjectives

喂养好的 (wèiyǎng hǎo de - well-fed)

人工喂养的 (réngōng wèiyǎng de - hand-raised)

食物 (shíwù - food)

成长 (chéngzhǎng - growth)

责任 (zérèn - responsibility)

宠物 (chǒngwù - pet)

婴儿 (yīng'ér - infant)

How to Use It

frequency

Common in household and agricultural contexts.

Common Mistakes

Using 喂养 for plants. → 使用 '养' 或 '施肥'。
Plants don't eat with a mouth, so 'wèi' (feed) is inappropriate. Use 'yǎng' (raise) instead.
Using 喂养 for your spouse. → 使用 '做饭给...吃'。
This sounds like you are treating your partner like a pet or a baby.
Confusing 喂养 with 饲养 in a casual pet context. → 使用 '喂养'。
饲养 sounds too industrial and cold for a beloved family pet.
Splitting the compound verb. → Keep '喂养' together.
You cannot say '喂猫养'; it must be '喂养猫' or '喂猫'.
Using 喂养 for a one-time action. → 使用 '喂'。
If you just give a bird a crumb once, it's not 'wèiyǎng' because you aren't raising it.

Tips

Verb-Object Order

Always place the recipient immediately after 喂养. For example: 喂养小猫 (Feed the kitten).

Responsibility

Use 喂养 when you want to emphasize that you are responsible for the creature's life, not just giving a snack.

Pet Care

This is the perfect word for social media posts about your pets. It sounds caring and dedicated.

Character Breakdown

Remember: 喂 (Mouth + Sound) + 养 (Sheep + Person). Feeding the mouth of your sheep/livestock.

Adults

Never use this for adults unless you are joking. It can sound very demeaning, as if they are animals.

Tones Matter

The 4th tone on 'wèi' should be short and sharp. Don't let it drift into a 2nd tone.

Character '喂'

Make sure the '口' radical on the left is small and high up. The right side is more complex.

Wèiyǎng vs Sìyǎng

If it's a pet, use 喂养. If it's 10,000 chickens in a factory, use 饲养.

Abstract Use

In advanced writing, use it for 'feeding' dreams or souls to add a poetic touch.

Daily Life

Pair it with '定时' (fixed time) or '每天' (every day) to describe your pet care routine.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'Wèi' as the sound a baby makes when hungry (like 'waaa'), and 'Yǎng' as the 'young' creature you are raising. You Wèi the Yǎng.

Visual Association

Imagine a hand holding a bottle (喂) for a small lamb (the 羊 in 养).

Word Web

Pet Baby Milk Growth Care Routine Farm Nurture

Challenge

Try to describe three things in your house you could '喂养'. Even if it's just a hypothetical pet, use the word in a sentence about their daily routine.

Word Origin

The word is a combination of two ancient Chinese characters. '喂' (wèi) appeared later in history to specifically denote the act of giving food. '养' (yǎng) is much older, appearing in oracle bone script.

Original meaning: To provide food for livestock (originally sheep) to ensure their growth and survival.

Sino-Tibetan

Cultural Context

Avoid using '喂养' for adults unless you are being intentionally patronizing or joking about someone being helpless.

English speakers often say 'I have a pet,' whereas Chinese speakers might say 'I 喂养 (or just 养) a pet,' focusing more on the action of care.

The phrase '母乳喂养' is ubiquitous in Chinese public health campaigns. Documentaries about the Giant Panda often use '喂养' when discussing the care of cubs in Chengdu. Traditional folk songs often mention '喂养' livestock as a sign of a prosperous home.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Pet Ownership

喂养宠物
定时喂养
喂养经验
喂养建议

Parenting

母乳喂养
人工喂养
混合喂养
喂养婴儿

Agriculture

喂养家畜
喂养成本
喂养家禽
饲料喂养

Nature/Wildlife

喂养幼崽
野外喂养
人工喂养大
拒绝喂养

Social/Legal

喂养义务
喂养状况
共同喂养
无法喂养

Conversation Starters

"你家里有喂养什么宠物吗？ (Do you feed and raise any pets at home?)"

"你觉得母乳喂养和奶粉喂养哪个更好？ (Do you think breastfeeding or formula feeding is better?)"

"喂养一只大狗每个月要花多少钱？ (How much does it cost to feed and raise a big dog every month?)"

"在你的国家，人们喜欢喂养什么动物？ (In your country, what animals do people like to feed and raise?)"

"你有没有喂养过受伤的小动物？ (Have you ever fed and raised an injured small animal?)"

Journal Prompts

描述一次你喂养宠物的经历，你学到了什么责任？ (Describe an experience of feeding a pet; what responsibility did you learn?)

如果你有一个农场，你会选择喂养哪些动物？为什么？ (If you had a farm, what animals would you choose to feed and raise? Why?)

谈谈你对“科学喂养”这个概念的看法。 (Talk about your views on the concept of 'scientific feeding'.)

写一段关于母鸟如何在森林里喂养幼鸟的故事。 (Write a story about how a mother bird feeds her chicks in the forest.)

你认为喂养宠物对孩子的成长有什么好处？ (What benefits do you think feeding and raising a pet has for a child's growth?)

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

No, you cannot. Plants do not have mouths (口). For plants, use 养 (yǎng - raise) or 施肥 (shīféi - fertilize). Example: '我在养花' (I am growing flowers).

Yes, '母乳喂养' (mǔrǔ wèiyǎng) is the standard Chinese term for breastfeeding. It combines 'mother's milk' with 'feeding and raising.'

Generally, no. For children who can eat by themselves, use 抚养 (fǔyǎng - to raise) or simply say you are providing for them. 喂养 sounds like they are still infants.

喂 is the act of giving one meal. 喂养 is the lifestyle of providing food and care over time. You can '喂' a stray dog once, but you '喂养' a pet dog for its whole life.

It is neutral. It's used in everyday conversation about pets but also in medical journals about infant nutrition. It's safe to use in most contexts.

Yes, absolutely. Any pet that requires you to provide food can be '喂养'ed.

You can say '过度喂养' (guòdù wèiyǎng) or '喂养过量' (wèiyǎng guòliàng). Both are common in veterinary and pediatric advice.

Yes, it can function as a gerund/noun meaning 'feeding' or 'nurturing.' For example: '良好的喂养对成长很重要' (Good feeding is important for growth).

It refers to the money spent on food and basic care for an animal or child. It's similar to 'maintenance costs' or 'child support' specifically for food.

Yes, but '饲养' (sìyǎng) is more common in a professional zoo context. '喂养' would be used if you are talking about the mother animal feeding her own baby in the zoo.

Test Yourself 192 questions

writing

Write a sentence about feeding your favorite pet using '喂养'.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Use Subject + Time + 喂养 + Pet.