培养 (péi yǎng) is a transitive verb meaning 'to foster' or 'to train' — emphasizing deliberate, sustained effort over time to develop skills, qualities, habits, or living things. The first character 培 (péi) means 'to cultivate' or 'to nurture', often evoking the image of building up soil around plant roots; the second character 养 (yǎng) means 'to raise', 'to nourish', or 'to maintain'. Together, they convey a holistic, patient process of growth through care and guidance — commonly used for raising children, training professionals, developing talents, or breeding animals.

This word appears frequently in formal, educational, or institutional contexts — such as education policy, scientific research, animal husbandry, and human resource development. It implies intentionality and long-term investment, distinguishing it from more casual verbs like 教 (jiāo, 'to teach') or 养 (yǎng) alone (which can mean simply 'to keep' an animal or pet). It is rarely used for spontaneous or short-term activities.