抱养 (bào yǎng) literally combines 抱 (bào, 'to hold in one’s arms') and 养 (yǎng, 'to raise or nurture'). Together, it means 'to adopt' — specifically referring to the legal or informal act of taking a child or animal into one’s family and raising them as one’s own. While it can apply to children, in contemporary Chinese usage it is most commonly used for animals, especially dogs and cats, reflecting growing awareness of pet adoption over purchasing.

This term carries warm, compassionate connotations — emphasizing care, responsibility, and emotional bonding rather than ownership. It contrasts with 购买 (gòu mǎi, 'to buy') or 领养 (lǐng yǎng), which is the formal, legal term for human adoption and often involves government procedures. 抱养 is more colloquial and intimate, often used in shelters, social media posts, or conversations about rescuing stray animals.