吸收

• Pinyin: xī shōu
• Hanzi breakdown: 吸 = 口 (mouth) + 及 (phonetic); 收 = 攵 (action) + 丩 (coil) — to receive and gather in

Meaning

To absorb; to assimilate; to take in. Used for physical absorption as well as learning and integrating new knowledge or members.

Widely used in contexts ranging from biology (plants absorbing nutrients) to learning (absorbing knowledge) to organisations (absorbing new members). It implies a process of drawing something in and making it part of oneself or a larger system.

Examples

1. 植物通过根部吸收土壤中的养分。 Plants absorb nutrients from the soil through their roots.
2. 年轻人应该积极吸收新知识和新技能。 Young people should actively absorb new knowledge and new skills.
3. 这家公司今年计划吸收一百名新员工。 This company plans to take in one hundred new employees this year.

Usage Guide

Context: science, education, business

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 皮肤能吸收这种护肤品中的营养成分。(The skin can absorb the nutrients in this skincare product.)
• 他很快就吸收了新的工作技巧。(He quickly absorbed the new work skills.)

Don't Say

• 用吸收描述排出或释放的过程。(Don't use 吸收 for releasing or expelling — that would be 排放 or 释放; 吸收 always means taking in.)

Origin & History

Compound of 吸 (to draw in) and 收 (to receive/collect), together meaning 'to draw in and collect.'

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal