吸收 meaning in English

xīshōu

to absorb; to assimilate

HSK 4verb12 strokes

Meaning of 吸收

Definitions from CC-CEDICT.

xīshōu

to absorb
to assimilate
to ingest
to recruit

How to use 吸收

吸收 is used for physical absorption like water or nutrients, and for taking in ideas, experience, or new members. 植物从土壤里吸收水分。(Zhíwù cóng tǔrǎng lǐ xīshōu shuǐfèn.) Plants absorb water from the soil.

吸 (xī) has the mouth radical 口, so picture a mouth sucking something in. 收 (shōu) means to take in or collect, so 吸收 is drawing something in and keeping it.

Common mistake: Learners often write 吸 with the wrong right side, confusing 及 with 乃 or 汲. Another trap is using 吸收 for simply receiving a package or message, where 收到 (shōudào) is correct.

吸收 in example sentences

Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.

我wǒ想xiǎng知zhī道dào这zhè些xiē物wù质zhì是shì怎zěn么me被bèi人rén体tǐ吸xī收shōu的de。

I'd like to know how the body absorbs these substances.

平píng流liú层céng的de臭chòu氧yǎng会huì吸xī收shōu紫zǐ外wài线xiàn。

The ozone in the stratosphere absorbs ultraviolet radiation.

树shù木mù排pái出chū氧yǎng气qì，吸xī收shōu二èr氧yǎng化huà碳tàn。

Trees give off oxygen and absorb carbon dioxide.

Stroke order for each character

Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.

吸 xī · to breathe · 6 strokes

收 shōu · to receive · 6 strokes

Related words

Words that share a character with 吸收.

收到	shōudào	to receive
收入	shōurù	to take in; income
收音机	shōuyīnjī	radio
收看	shōukàn	to watch (a TV program)
收费	shōufèi	to charge a fee
收听	shōutīng	to listen to (a radio broadcast)
呼吸	hūxī	to breathe
吸引	xīyǐn	to attract; to appeal to; to fascinate
收回	shōuhuí	to regain; to retake
吸烟	xīyān	to smoke
收获	shōuhuò	to harvest; to reap
收益	shōuyì	earnings; profit

Questions about 吸收

What does 吸收 mean?

吸收 (xīshōu) means "to absorb; to assimilate" and is used as a verb.

How do you write 吸收?

吸收 is made of 2 characters: 吸 (6 strokes), 收 (6 strokes). That is 12 strokes in total.

Is 吸收 an HSK word?

Yes. 吸收 is on the HSK 4 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.

What is the difference between 吸收 and 吸引?

吸收 (xīshōu) means to absorb or take something in. 吸引 (xīyǐn) means to attract or draw attention, as in 吸引游客 (attract tourists).

Can 吸收 be used for learning knowledge?

Yes. You can say 吸收知识 (xīshōu zhīshi) or 吸收经验 (xīshōu jīngyàn) to mean taking in knowledge or experience and making it your own.