培养 (péiyǎng)

培养 means to cultivate, train, or develop a person or quality over time through deliberate effort and care.

Meanings

[verb] to cultivate or nurture (talent, ability, habits)
[verb] to train or develop (a person, skill, or interest)

Example Sentences

学校要培养学生的创造力。 Xuéxiào yào péiyǎng xuéshēng de chuàngzàolì. The school aims to cultivate students' creativity.

父母应该培养孩子的好习惯。 Fùmǔ yīnggāi péiyǎng háizi de hǎo xíguàn. Parents should develop good habits in their children.

这家公司花了很多时间培养新员工。 Zhè jiā gōngsī huāle hěn duō shíjiān péiyǎng xīn yuángōng. This company spends a lot of time training new employees.

他从小培养了对音乐的兴趣。 Tā cóng xiǎo péiyǎngle duì yīnyuè de xìngqù. He developed an interest in music from a young age.

Collocations

Collocation	Meaning
培养人才	to cultivate talent
培养习惯	to develop habits
培养兴趣	to foster interest
培养能力	to develop ability

Usage Notes

培养 implies a gradual, intentional process of nurturing over time. It is often used in educational or professional contexts when talking about developing skills, talent, or good qualities. It carries a positive connotation and suggests patience and investment.

Memory Hook

Think of 培 (to cultivate soil) and 养 (to raise/nourish): you prepare the ground and nourish the plant until it grows strong, just like training a person.