Meaning
嫁接 literally means 'to marry and connect' and primarily refers to the horticultural technique of grafting, where a piece of one plant is joined to another so they grow as one. The term has extended metaphorically to mean combining or transplanting ideas, methods, or elements from one context to another.
Usage
Most commonly used in agricultural and botanical contexts when discussing plant propagation. In modern usage, it's frequently used metaphorically in business, technology, and cultural discussions to describe combining different systems, ideas, or approaches. The metaphorical usage sounds educated and slightly formal.
Examples
- 01果农通过嫁接技术培育出了新品种的苹果树。.The fruit farmer cultivated a new variety of apple tree through grafting techniques.
- 02这家公司成功地将西方管理理念嫁接到本土文化中。.This company successfully transplanted Western management concepts into local culture.
Characters
Measure words
- 次进行一次嫁接
Common collocations
- 嫁接技术grafting technique
- 嫁接苗grafted seedling
- 嫁接成功successful grafting
- 文化嫁接cultural transplantation/fusion
Antonyms
Origin
The word combines 嫁 (marry off) with 接 (connect). The metaphor comes from the idea of 'marrying' one plant to another, creating a union where two become one, much like traditional marriage joining two families.