塑造

塑造 means 'to shape' or 'to mold,' often used metaphorically to describe the process of forming or developing something, such as a person's character, a product, or an image.

The character 塑 (sù) originally meant 'to model with clay' and later came to mean 'to shape' or 'to form.' The character 造 (zào) means 'to create' or 'to make.' Together, they convey the idea of shaping or molding something through effort or influence.

塑造 is commonly used in contexts like personal development, artistic creation, or social influence. For example, parents may shape their children's values, or a country may shape its national identity. It emphasizes the active role of the subject in the shaping process.