Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word
生活. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
生活, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
生活 in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
生活 you have here. The definition of the word
生活 will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
生活, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
Chinese
|
to be born; to give birth; life to be born; to give birth; life; to grow; student; raw
|
to live; alive; living to live; alive; living; work; workmanship
|
simp. and trad. (生活)
|
生
|
活
|
alternative forms
|
松豪 calligraphy brush
|
anagram
|
活生
|
Pronunciation
Note:
- 1sen-weq8 - literary reading, "life";
- 1san-weq8 - vernacular reading, "job, task".
Rime
|
Character
|
生
|
生
|
活
|
Reading #
|
1/2
|
2/2
|
2/2
|
Initial (聲)
|
生 (21)
|
生 (21)
|
匣 (33)
|
Final (韻)
|
庚 (109)
|
庚 (109)
|
末 (64)
|
Tone (調)
|
Level (Ø)
|
Departing (H)
|
Checked (Ø)
|
Openness (開合)
|
Open
|
Open
|
Closed
|
Division (等)
|
II
|
II
|
I
|
Fanqie
|
所庚切
|
所敬切
|
戸括切
|
Baxter
|
sraeng
|
sraengH
|
hwat
|
Reconstructions
|
Zhengzhang Shangfang
|
/ʃˠæŋ/
|
/ʃˠæŋH/
|
/ɦuɑt̚/
|
Pan Wuyun
|
/ʃᵚaŋ/
|
/ʃᵚaŋH/
|
/ɦʷɑt̚/
|
Shao Rongfen
|
/ʃaŋ/
|
/ʃaŋH/
|
/ɣuɑt̚/
|
Edwin Pulleyblank
|
/ʂaɨjŋ/
|
/ʂaɨjŋH/
|
/ɦwat̚/
|
Li Rong
|
/ʃɐŋ/
|
/ʃɐŋH/
|
/ɣuɑt̚/
|
Wang Li
|
/ʃɐŋ/
|
/ʃɐŋH/
|
/ɣuɑt̚/
|
Bernhard Karlgren
|
/ʂɐŋ/
|
/ʂɐŋH/
|
/ɣuɑt̚/
|
Expected Mandarin Reflex
|
shēng
|
shèng
|
huó
|
Expected Cantonese Reflex
|
sang1
|
sang3
|
wut6
|
Baxter–Sagart system 1.1 (2014)
|
Character
|
生
|
生
|
生
|
活
|
Reading #
|
1/3
|
2/3
|
3/3
|
1/1
|
Modern Beijing (Pinyin)
|
shēng
|
shēng
|
shēng
|
huó
|
Middle Chinese
|
‹ sræng ›
|
‹ sræng ›
|
‹ srjæng ›
|
‹ hwat ›
|
Old Chinese
|
/*sreŋ/ (MC srj- > sr-; or *s.reŋ ?)
|
/*sreŋ/
|
/*sreŋ/ (or *s.reŋ ?)
|
/*ʷˁat/
|
English
|
bear, be born; live
|
fresh, raw
|
bear, be born; live
|
to live
|
Notes for Old Chinese notations in the Baxter–Sagart system:
* Parentheses "()" indicate uncertain presence;
* Square brackets "" indicate uncertain identity, e.g. * as coda may in fact be *-t or *-p;
* Angle brackets "<>" indicate infix;
* Hyphen "-" indicates morpheme boundary;
* Period "." indicates syllable boundary.
|
Zhengzhang system (2003)
|
Character
|
生
|
生
|
活
|
Reading #
|
1/2
|
2/2
|
2/2
|
No.
|
11312
|
11322
|
7585
|
Phonetic component
|
生
|
生
|
桰
|
Rime group
|
耕
|
耕
|
月
|
Rime subdivision
|
0
|
0
|
3
|
Corresponding MC rime
|
生
|
生
|
活
|
Old Chinese
|
/*sʰleːŋ/
|
/*sreŋs/
|
/*ɡoːd/
|
Noun
生活
- 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.
- livelihood
- (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)
- (dialectal Mandarin) calligraphy brush; inkbrush
Synonyms
- 世故 (shìgù) (archaic)
- 生涯 (shēngyá)
- 生產 / 生产 (shēngchǎn) (archaic)
- 生計 / 生计 (shēngjì)
- 生路 (shēnglù)
- 飯碗 / 饭碗 (fànwǎn) (figurative, informal)
Dialectal synonyms of
職業 (“job; occupation; profession”)
Variety
|
Location
|
Words
|
Classical Chinese
|
職, 業
|
Formal (Written Standard Chinese)
|
職業, 工作
|
Northeastern Mandarin
|
Taiwan
|
工作
|
Singapore
|
工, 工作
|
Cantonese
|
Guangzhou
|
工
|
Hong Kong
|
工
|
Singapore (Guangfu)
|
工
|
Hakka
|
Miaoli (N. Sixian)
|
頭路
|
Pingtung (Neipu; S. Sixian)
|
頭路
|
Hsinchu County (Zhudong; Hailu)
|
頭路
|
Taichung (Dongshi; Dabu)
|
頭路
|
Hsinchu County (Qionglin; Raoping)
|
頭路
|
Yunlin (Lunbei; Zhao'an)
|
頭路
|
Southern Min
|
Xiamen
|
頭路, 工課, 穡路
|
Quanzhou
|
頭路, 工課, 穡路
|
Jinjiang
|
頭路
|
Zhangzhou
|
頭路, 工課, 穡路
|
Taipei
|
頭路
|
New Taipei (Sanxia)
|
頭路, 職業
|
Kaohsiung
|
工課, 頭路, 穡頭, 職業
|
Yilan
|
工課, 頭路, 職業
|
Changhua (Lukang)
|
工課, 頭路, 職業
|
Taichung
|
頭路, 工課, 穡頭
|
Tainan
|
工課, 頭路, 穡頭, 職業
|
Hsinchu
|
頭路, 工課
|
Kinmen
|
頭路, 工課
|
Penghu (Magong)
|
工課
|
Penang (Hokkien)
|
工課, 工
|
Singapore (Hokkien)
|
工, 頭路, 工課
|
Manila (Hokkien)
|
頭路
|
Jieyang
|
工課
|
Singapore (Teochew)
|
工, 工課
|
Singapore (Hainanese)
|
工
|
Wu
|
Shanghai
|
工作, 生活, 生意, 行當, 飯碗 figuratively, 飯碗頭 figuratively
|
Shanghai (Chongming)
|
生活, 營生
|
Suzhou
|
行當
|
Danyang
|
生活
|
Ningbo
|
生活, 行當
|
Wenzhou
|
行當
|
Jinhua
|
行當, 事幹, 生活
|
Dialectal synonyms of
毛筆 (“calligraphy brush; inkbrush”)
Variety
|
Location
|
Words
|
Classical Chinese
|
管, 翰
|
Formal (Written Standard Chinese)
|
毛筆
|
Northeastern Mandarin
|
Beijing
|
毛筆
|
Taiwan
|
毛筆
|
Ulanhot
|
水筆
|
Tongliao
|
水筆
|
Chifeng
|
毛筆
|
Hulunbuir (Hailar)
|
水筆
|
Harbin
|
毛筆
|
Singapore
|
毛筆
|
Jilu Mandarin
|
Jinan
|
毛筆
|
Jiaoliao Mandarin
|
Yantai (Muping)
|
水筆, 毛筆
|
Central Plains Mandarin
|
Luoyang
|
毛筆
|
Wanrong
|
毛筆, 生紅 dated
|
Wanrong (Ronghe)
|
生胡
|
Zhengzhou
|
毛筆
|
Xi'an
|
毛筆, 墨筆, 生活 dated
|
Xining
|
生活, 筆
|
Xuzhou
|
毛筆
|
Lanyin Mandarin
|
Yinchuan
|
毛筆, 生花 dated
|
Bayanhot
|
毛筆
|
Lanzhou
|
生活
|
Ürümqi
|
毛筆, 生活 dated
|
Jimsar
|
生活
|
Southwestern Mandarin
|
Chengdu
|
毛筆, 墨筆
|
Wuhan
|
毛筆, 墨筆 dated
|
Guiyang
|
墨筆, 毛筆
|
Liuzhou
|
毛筆
|
Jianghuai Mandarin
|
Nanjing
|
墨筆, 毛筆
|
Yangzhou
|
毛筆
|
Hefei
|
毛筆, 墨筆
|
Cantonese
|
Guangzhou
|
毛筆, 墨筆
|
Hong Kong
|
毛筆
|
Hong Kong (San Tin; Weitou)
|
毛筆
|
Dongguan
|
毛筆
|
Yangjiang
|
毛筆, 墨筆
|
Kuala Lumpur (Guangfu)
|
毛筆
|
Gan
|
Nanchang
|
墨筆
|
Lichuan
|
毛筆
|
Pingxiang
|
墨筆
|
Hakka
|
Meixian
|
毛筆, 水筆
|
Changting
|
毛筆
|
Wuping
|
毛筆
|
Ninghua
|
筆
|
Miaoli (N. Sixian)
|
毛筆, 水筆
|
Pingtung (Neipu; S. Sixian)
|
毛筆, 水筆
|
Hsinchu County (Zhudong; Hailu)
|
毛筆, 水筆
|
Taichung (Dongshi; Dabu)
|
毛筆, 水筆
|
Hsinchu County (Qionglin; Raoping)
|
毛筆, 水筆
|
Yunlin (Lunbei; Zhao'an)
|
毛筆, 膨筆, 水筆
|
Hong Kong
|
毛筆
|
Luchuan (Daqiao)
|
毛筆
|
Senai (Huiyang)
|
毛筆
|
Huizhou
|
Jixi
|
毛筆
|
Jin
|
Taiyuan
|
毛筆, 筆
|
Xinzhou
|
毛筆
|
Taibus (Baochang)
|
毛筆
|
Linhe
|
毛筆
|
Jining
|
毛筆
|
Hohhot
|
毛筆
|
Baotou
|
毛筆
|
Dongsheng
|
毛筆
|
Haibowan
|
毛筆
|
Northern Min
|
Jian'ou
|
毛筆, 水筆
|
Eastern Min
|
Fuzhou
|
毛筆, 墨筆, 水筆
|
Fuzhou (Changle)
|
毛筆
|
Fuqing
|
毛筆, 水筆
|
Yongtai
|
水筆
|
Gutian
|
水筆
|
Fu'an
|
水筆
|
Ningde
|
墨筆
|
Shouning
|
墨筆
|
Zhouning
|
墨筆
|
Fuding
|
墨筆
|
Southern Min
|
Xiamen
|
水筆, 毛筆
|
Quanzhou
|
毛筆
|
Zhangzhou
|
水筆, 毛筆
|
Penang (Hokkien)
|
毛筆
|
Singapore (Hokkien)
|
毛筆
|
Manila (Hokkien)
|
毛筆
|
Chaozhou
|
毛筆, 墨筆
|
Johor Bahru (Teochew)
|
毛筆
|
Haikou
|
毛筆
|
Southern Pinghua
|
Nanning (Tingzi)
|
毛筆
|
Wu
|
Shanghai
|
毛筆, 墨筆
|
Suzhou
|
毛筆, 墨筆
|
Danyang
|
毛筆, 墨筆
|
Hangzhou
|
毛筆, 墨筆
|
Ningbo
|
墨筆
|
Wenzhou
|
墨筆
|
Jinhua
|
墨筆, 毛筆
|
Xiang
|
Changsha
|
墨筆
|
Loudi
|
墨筆
|
Shuangfeng
|
墨筆, 寫字筆, 筆
|
Verb
生活
- to live; to exist; to lead a lifestyle
- 健康生活 ― jiànkāng shēnghuó ― to lead a healthy lifestyle
Synonyms
Derived terms
Descendants
See also
- 人生 (rénshēng)
- 生命 (shēngmìng)
Japanese
Pronunciation
Noun
生活 • (seikatsu) ←せいくわつ (seikwatu)?
- life; livelihood; daily living.
- 生活を送る ― (please add an English translation of this usage example)
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
Derived terms
Verb
生活する • (seikatsu suru) intransitive suru (stem 生活し (seikatsu shi), past 生活した (seikatsu shita))
- live a life
Conjugation
Katsuyōkei ("stem forms")
|
Mizenkei ("imperfective")
|
生活し
|
せいかつし
|
seikatsu shi
|
Ren’yōkei ("continuative")
|
生活し
|
せいかつし
|
seikatsu shi
|
Shūshikei ("terminal")
|
生活する
|
せいかつする
|
seikatsu suru
|
Rentaikei ("attributive")
|
生活する
|
せいかつする
|
seikatsu suru
|
Kateikei ("hypothetical")
|
生活すれ
|
せいかつすれ
|
seikatsu sure
|
Meireikei ("imperative")
|
生活せよ¹ 生活しろ²
|
せいかつせよ¹ せいかつしろ²
|
seikatsu seyo¹ seikatsu shiro²
|
Key constructions
|
Passive
|
生活される
|
せいかつされる
|
seikatsu sareru
|
Causative
|
生活させる 生活さす
|
せいかつさせる せいかつさす
|
seikatsu saseru seikatsu sasu
|
Potential
|
生活できる
|
せいかつできる
|
seikatsu dekiru
|
Volitional
|
生活しよう
|
せいかつしよう
|
seikatsu shiyō
|
Negative
|
生活しない
|
せいかつしない
|
seikatsu shinai
|
Negative continuative
|
生活せず
|
せいかつせず
|
seikatsu sezu
|
Formal
|
生活します
|
せいかつします
|
seikatsu shimasu
|
Perfective
|
生活した
|
せいかつした
|
seikatsu shita
|
Conjunctive
|
生活して
|
せいかつして
|
seikatsu shite
|
Hypothetical conditional
|
生活すれば
|
せいかつすれば
|
seikatsu sureba
|
¹ Written imperative
² Spoken imperative
|
References
- ^ Matsumura, Akira, editor (2006), 大辞林 [Daijirin] (in Japanese), Third edition, Tokyo: Sanseidō, →ISBN
- ^ NHK Broadcasting Culture Research Institute, editor (1998), NHK日本語発音アクセント辞典 [NHK Japanese Pronunciation Accent Dictionary] (in Japanese), Tokyo: NHK Publishing, Inc., →ISBN
Korean
Noun
生活 • (saenghwal) (hangeul 생활)
- hanja form? of 생활 (“lifestyle, way of life, daily living”)
Vietnamese
Noun
生活
- chữ Hán form of sinh hoạt (“life”).