生活

Chinese

Pronunciation

Noun

生活

1. life (activities in life)

   日常生活  ―  rìcháng shēnghuó  ―  everyday life

   城市生活  ―  chéngshì shēnghuó  ―  urban life

   生活節奏／生活节奏  ―  shēnghuó jiézòu  ―  pace of life

   豪華生活／豪华生活  ―  háohuá shēnghuó  ―  high life

   熱愛生活／热爱生活  ―  rè'ài shēnghuó  ―  to love one's life

   生活態度／生活态度  ―  shēnghuó tàidù  ―  outlook on life

   人民生活步步高  ―  rénmín shēnghuó bùbùgāo  ―  the lives of the people improve step by step

   我感覺自己的生活很無聊。 [MSC, trad.]
   我感觉自己的生活很无聊。 [MSC, simp.]

   Wǒ gǎnjué zìjǐ de shēnghuó hěn wúliáo.

   I feel my life is boring.

   我們都嚮往幸福的生活。 [MSC, trad.]
   我们都向往幸福的生活。 [MSC, simp.]

   Wǒmen dōu xiàngwǎng xìngfú de shēnghuó.

   We all long for a happy life.

   這個技術能讓我們的生活更方便。 [MSC, trad.]
   这个技术能让我们的生活更方便。 [MSC, simp.]

   Zhè ge jìshù néng ràng wǒmen de shēnghuó gèng fāngbiàn.

   This technology can make our lives more convenient.

2. livelihood
3. (dialectal) job; task

   做.生活 [Shanghainese]  ―  ⁵tsu ¹san-weq [Wugniu]  ―  to work (lit. "to do a task")

   • 夜久人靜，或聞以行相呼云：「今吾輩有何生活？」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     夜久人静，或闻以行相呼云：「今吾辈有何生活？」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: Song Dynasty, 呉曾, 《能改齋漫錄》

     Yèjiǔrénjìng, huò wén yǐ xíng xiàng hū yún: “Jīn wúbèi yǒu hé shēnghuó?”

     (please add an English translation of this usage example)

   • 實際上，拿莫溫對待外頭工人，也並不怎樣客氣，因為除了打罵之外，還有更巧妙的方法，譬如派給你難做的「生活」，或者調你去做不願意去做的工作。 [MSC, trad.]
     实际上，拿莫温对待外头工人，也并不怎样客气，因为除了打骂之外，还有更巧妙的方法，譬如派给你难做的「生活」，或者调你去做不愿意去做的工作。 [MSC, simp.]

     From: 1935, Xia Yan, 《包身工》

     Shíjì shàng, námòwēn duìdài wàitou gōngrén, yě bìng bù zěnyàng kèqi, yīnwèi chúle dǎmà zhīwài, háiyǒu gèng qiǎomiào de fāngfǎ, pìrú pài gěi nǐ nán zuò de “shēnghuó”, huòzhě diào nǐ qù zuò bù yuànyì qù zuò de gōngzuò.

     (please add an English translation of this usage example)

4. (dialectal Mandarin) calligraphy brush; inkbrush

Synonyms

• (livelihood):

• (task): 活 (huó)

Verb

生活

1. to live; to exist; to lead a lifestyle

   健康生活  ―  jiànkāng shēnghuó  ―  to lead a healthy lifestyle

   • 我生活著，故我歌唱。 [Written Vernacular Chinese, trad.]
     我生活着，故我歌唱。 [Written Vernacular Chinese, simp.]

     From: 1941, Ai Qing, On Poetry (《詩論》)

     Wǒ shēnghuó zhe, gù wǒ gēchàng.

     I live, therefore I sing.

Synonyms

Derived terms

Descendants

See also

• 人生 (rénshēng)
• 生命 (shēngmìng)

Japanese

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) せーかつ (Heiban – )
• IPA^(key):

Noun

生(せい)活(かつ) • (seikatsu) ^{←せいくわつ (seikwatu)?}

1. life; livelihood; daily living.

Usage notes

生活 is distinct from several other Japanese words that may also be translated to English as "life". In particular, it means "day-to-day life as it is experienced; lifestyle; one's usual activities, habits, and routines". Compare the terms below, which may also be rendered as "life" in English:

• 生存 (seizon, “life”): Action involved in staying alive, as in "signs of life".
• 命 (inochi, “life”): The state of being alive, an animating force, or life as a whole (from birth to death).
• 生命 (seimei, “life”): Biological life in general, particularly in scientific contexts.
• 存在 (sonzai, “life”): Being; either the state of existing or a thing that exists.
• 人生 (jinsei, “life”): A person's narrative, experience, and/or accomplishments from birth to death.
• 寿命 (jumyō, “life”): Lifespan or life expectancy.
• 残機 (zanki, “life”): A video-game life; a chance to play.
• 元気 (genki, “life”): Liveliness.

Synonyms

• 暮(く)らし (kurashi)

Derived terms

• 生活費(せいかつひ) (seikatsuhi): living expenses
• 生活様式(せいかつようしき) (seikatsu-yōshiki): life style
• 実生活(じっせいかつ) (jisseikatsu): actual life
• 日常生活(にちじょうせいかつ) (nichijō-seikatsu): daily life

Verb

生(せい)活(かつ)する • (seikatsu suru) intransitive suru (stem 生(せい)活(かつ)し (seikatsu shi), past 生(せい)活(かつ)した (seikatsu shita))

1. live a life

Conjugation

References

Korean

Noun

生活 • (saenghwal) (hangeul 생활)

1. Hanja form^? of 생활 (“lifestyle, way of life, daily living”).

Vietnamese

Noun

生活

1. chữ Hán form of sinh hoạt (“life”).