<p>Much like English, <code>A孕育B</code> means 'A gives birth to B'. It can be used <strong>figuratively</strong>.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>奔騰不息的黃河孕育了古老的華夏文明</p>
</blockquote>
<p>It's common knowledge that civilisations formed on the banks of rivers. Rivers provide the water needed for agriculture. Therefore, they are <em>prerequisites</em> for the civilisations. Civilisations form because of their presence. So rivers &quot;gave birth&quot; to civilisations.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-06-06T10:29:19.363Z
2021-06-06T10:29:19.363Z
L Parker
<p>There is nothing wrong with using 孕育 as 'give birth to' in a metaphorical sense, 奔腾不息的黄河孕育了古老的华夏文明.</p>
<p>A river metaphorically gives birth to civilization or a people. Without the Yellow River, the ancient Chinese civilization would not exist. Without the Singapore River, the Singaporean people would not be here</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-06-06T10:28:50.260Z
2021-06-06T10:28:50.260Z
Tang Ho
<p>The definition of 孕育 on Pleco is &quot;(Fig.) give birth to/breed/nurture&quot;
While I understand how this meaning is brought over in sentences such as
&quot;天刚刚亮时，乃一天的开始，孕育着簇新的盼望。&quot;</p>
<p>I do not understand its meaning and how it is used in sentences such as
&quot;奔腾不息的黄河孕育了古老的华夏文明。&quot; and “新加坡河孕育着一代又一代的新加坡人。” where they talk about how places (rivers) give birth to civilisations and people.
In such cases, what is 孕育 actually referring to?</p>
<p>I found all sentences on <a href="https://zaojv.com/wordQueryDo.php" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://zaojv.com/wordQueryDo.php</a></p>

<translation><meaning-in-context>
What is a more accurate translation of 孕育 in sentences describing places and how they "give birth to" things?
# What is a more accurate translation of 孕育 in sentences describing places and how they "give birth to" things?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2021-06-06)

The definition of 孕育 on Pleco is "(Fig.) give birth to/breed/nurture"
While I understand how this meaning is brought over in sentences such as
"天刚刚亮时，乃一天的开始，孕育着簇新的盼望。"

I do not understand its meaning and how it is used in sentences such as
"奔腾不息的黄河孕育了古老的华夏文明。" and “新加坡河孕育着一代又一代的新加坡人。” where they talk about how places (rivers) give birth to civilisations and people.
In such cases, what is 孕育 actually referring to?

I found all sentences on <https://zaojv.com/wordQueryDo.php>

**Tags:** translation, meaning-in-context


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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2021-06-06. Score: 1

Much like English, `A孕育B` means 'A gives birth to B'. It can be used **figuratively**.

> 奔騰不息的黃河孕育了古老的華夏文明

It's common knowledge that civilisations formed on the banks of rivers. Rivers provide the water needed for agriculture. Therefore, they are *prerequisites* for the civilisations. Civilisations form because of their presence. So rivers "gave birth" to civilisations.


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### Answer by username_2 on 2021-06-06. Score: 0

There is nothing wrong with using 孕育 as 'give birth to' in a metaphorical sense, 奔腾不息的黄河孕育了古老的华夏文明.

A river metaphorically gives birth to civilization or a people. Without the Yellow River, the ancient Chinese civilization would not exist. Without the Singapore River, the Singaporean people would not be here


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