领养

• Pinyin: lǐng yǎng
• Hanzi breakdown: 领 = 令 + 页 (receive, take); 养 = 羊 + 食 (feed, nurture)

Meaning

To adopt. To legally take in and raise a child or animal as one's own.

Used in legal, social welfare, and humanitarian contexts. In China, the Adoption Law governs the process of child adoption. Also widely used for animal adoption through shelters. The term implies a formal commitment to care and responsibility.

Examples

1. 这对夫妇经过多年等待，终于通过合法程序领养了一名孤儿。 After years of waiting, the couple finally adopted an orphan through legal procedures.
2. 许多家庭选择从动物收容所领养流浪猫狗，为它们提供温暖的家。 Many families choose to adopt stray cats and dogs from animal shelters, giving them a warm home.
3. 政府出台了新的领养法规，旨在简化手续并加强对被领养儿童的保护。 The government introduced new adoption regulations aimed at streamlining procedures and strengthening protection for adopted children.

Usage Guide

Context: legal, social welfare, family

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 他们决定领养一名来自山区的孤儿，给孩子一个稳定的家。(They decided to adopt an orphan from a mountainous area, giving the child a stable home.)
• 很多志愿者鼓励市民从救助站领养宠物而非购买。(Many volunteers encourage citizens to adopt pets from rescue centres rather than buying them.)

Don't Say

• 把领养和收养随意混用 — 领养 and 收养 are largely synonymous in modern Chinese, but 收养 is more formal and legal in tone; in casual speech both are acceptable (In formal legal documents, 收养 is slightly more precise, though both terms are widely accepted)

Origin & History

领 (to receive, take in) + 养 (to raise, nurture) — to receive and raise as one's own.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal