灌输

No base JSON record found for this token.

Character Breakdown

Meaning and Usage

The verb 灌输 (guànshū) literally means "to irrigate" or "to pour in," but in modern usage, it refers to the act of instilling ideas, values, or knowledge into someone's mind, often persistently or deliberately.

Common Contexts

It is frequently used in educational or ideological contexts, such as parents or teachers instilling values or beliefs in children or students. It can also carry a negative connotation when referring to forcing or imposing ideas, especially incorrect or biased ones.

Collocations and Patterns

These phrases emphasize the transmission of abstract content like beliefs or attitudes.

Nuance and Register

The word often implies a one-way, sometimes forceful transmission of ideas rather than a mutual exchange. It is more formal and commonly used in written or formal spoken Chinese rather than casual conversation.

Common Confusion

Do not confuse 灌输 with (jiào, to teach) or 传授 (chuánshòu, to impart), which are more neutral or positive terms for teaching. 灌输 can imply a stronger, sometimes unwelcome imposition of ideas.

Example Sentences

Parents instill correct values in their children from an early age.

The teacher strives to instill the importance of teamwork in the students.

Some advertisements try to instill wrong ideas in consumers.