How to Say "Genes" in Mandarin

基因

jīyīn

In Mandarin, "genes" is 基因 (jīyīn).

The term refers to the basic physical and functional units of heredity that carry information from one generation to the next.

Which one should you use?

The phrase 遗传基因 can also be used to refer to genes.

jīyīn

The word 基因 is a 'phono-semantic' match, meaning it was chosen to sound like the English 'gene' while also carrying a meaning related to 'fundamental factor'.
In modern Chinese slang, the word 基因 is often used to describe a person's innate talent or personality trait, such as saying someone has 'artist genes' 艺术家基因.
The word was coined by the scientist Tan Jiazhen around 1935, during a period when Chinese intellectuals were working rapidly to create a standardized scientific vocabulary. This helped bridge the gap between Western biological concepts and Chinese linguistic structures.

他研究的是遗传基因与疾病之间的关系。
He studies the relationship between genetic genes and diseases.
这项研究关注机体的基因表达和调控。
This study focuses on gene expression and regulation in organisms.
这种特征是由遗传的基因决定的。
This trait is determined by genetic genes.
这些特征是由基因决定的。
Zhèxiē tèzhēng shì yóu jīyīn juédìng de.
These traits are determined by genes.
科学家正在研究这种特殊的基因。
Kēxuéjiā zhèngzài yánjiū zhè zhǒng tèshū de jīyīn.
Scientists are studying this special gene.
这种疾病与某些基因有关。
Zhè zhǒng jíbìng yǔ mǒu xiē jīyīn yǒuguān.
This disease is related to certain genes.

Two friends are discussing their family traits.

浩然 Haoran

我和我爸爸长得很像。
Wǒ hé wǒ bàba zhǎng de hěn xiàng.
I look a lot like my father.
晓雯 Xiaowen

看来你的基因遗传得很强。
Kàn lái nǐ de jīyīn yíchuán de hěn qiáng.
It seems your genes are strongly inherited.
浩然 Haoran

是的，我们连鼻子都一样。
Shì de, wǒmen lián bízi dōu yīyàng.
Yes, even our noses are the same.
晓雯 Xiaowen

这就是基因的神奇之处。
Zhè jiùshì jīyīn de shénqí zhī chù.
That is the magic of genes.

Sources

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