养 yǎng
“to raise (animals); to bring up (children); to keep (pets)”
verb2021 list level 2Traditional 養
新HSK等级2025 HSK 3.0 syllabus level
养 appears in the November 2025 exam syllabus in the following numbered entry. Levels refer to the listed reading and use, not every meaning.
- Entry 919: 养 yǎng — Level 3; official annotation 3 (动). PDF page 102
Separate from the HSK 2.0 and 2021 list labels above. Compare the three lists.
用法How to use 养
养 (yǎng) is a verb meaning to raise animals, keep pets, bring up children, or support a family. It commonly takes a noun object, as in 养猫, 养狗, 养花, and 养孩子; the fixed phrase 养家 means to support a family. It describes long-term care or ownership, not a single act of feeding.
例句Example sentences
- 我家养了一只猫，还有两只狗。wǒ jiā yǎng le yì zhī māo, hái yǒu liǎng zhī gǒu.My family keeps a cat and also two dogs.
- 养孩子需要很多时间和耐心。yǎng hái zi xū yào hěn duō shí jiān hé nài xīn.Raising children requires a lot of time and patience.
- 他每天努力工作，是为了养家。tā měi tiān nǔ lì gōng zuò, shì wèi le yǎng jiā.He works hard every day in order to support his family.
易混词Easily confused
养vs喂
喂 means to feed someone or an animal at a particular time, while 养 means to keep or raise over the long term. Say 我家养了一只猫 for owning a cat, and 我每天喂猫 for feeding it every day.