克隆

• Pinyin: kè lóng
• Hanzi breakdown: 克 = 十 + 兄; 隆 = 阝(mound) + 降 component (phonetic loan characters)

Meaning

To clone; clone. The process of creating a genetically identical copy of an organism.

Originally a scientific term that has expanded into everyday usage. Can be used metaphorically to describe copying or imitating something closely. Also used as a noun to refer to the clone itself.

Examples

1. 科学家们成功克隆了一只绵羊。 Scientists successfully cloned a sheep.
2. 关于克隆人的伦理争议一直没有停止过。 Ethical debates about human cloning have never ceased.
3. 有人担心基因克隆技术可能被滥用。 Some people worry that gene cloning technology may be misused.

Usage Guide

Context: science, biotechnology, ethics

Tone: technical

Do Say

• 克隆技术有很多潜在的医学应用。(Cloning technology has many potential medical applications.)
• 这是世界上第一只克隆猫。(This is the world's first cloned cat.)

Don't Say

• 我要克隆这份文件。(Don't use 克隆 for copying documents — use 复制; 克隆 is for biological replication)

Origin & History

Transliteration from English 'clone.' Introduced into Chinese vocabulary with the advancement of genetic technology.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal