收养

The Chinese word 收养 (shōuyǎng) for "adoption" is composed of two characters: 收 (shōu), meaning "to receive" or "to take in," and 养 (yǎng), meaning "to raise" or "to nurture." Together, these characters convey the idea of taking in and caring for someone as one's own child.The character 收 (shōu) has a long history in Chinese, dating back to the oracle bone script of the Shang dynasty (c. 1600-1046 BCE). In its original form, the character depicted a hand holding a plant, symbolizing the act of gathering or receiving. Over time, the character evolved to take on a more general meaning of "to receive" or "to take in."The character 养 (yǎng) also has a long history in Chinese, dating back to the oracle bone script of the Shang dynasty. In its original form, the character depicted a person holding a child, symbolizing the act of nurturing or raising. Over time, the character evolved to take on a more general meaning of "to raise" or "to nurture."When combined, the characters 收 (shōu) and 养 (yǎng) form the word 收养 (shōuyǎng), which specifically refers to the act of taking in and caring for someone as one's own child. This word is commonly used in the context of adoption, but it can also be used in a broader sense to refer to any situation where someone takes on the responsibility of raising and caring for another person.