生活
我的生活很充实。
My life is fulfilling.
The state or manner of living; existence as a human being.
他过着简单的生活。
He lives a simple life.
我们应该珍惜现在的生活。
We should cherish our current life.
Often used in personal, social, or philosophical contexts.
To live; to exist.
他生活在一个小村庄里。
He lives in a small village.
Less common as a verb; typically used in literary or formal contexts.
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Distinguishing 生活 and 人生
'生活' emphasizes the daily state or manner of living, while '人生' refers to the entire span of one's life or life experience. For example, '我的生活很忙碌' (My life is busy) vs. '我的人生很精彩' (My life is wonderful).
Gold Rule
Usage of 生活 as a verb
When used as a verb, 生活 is often followed by a location or a state (e.g., 生活在城市 'live in a city', 生活快乐 'live happily'). It is less common than the noun usage.
Word Origin
From Middle Chinese 生 (sreŋ, “to live”) + 活 (hwat, “to live”).
Usage Notes
Used in both spoken and written Chinese. As a noun, it refers to the general state or manner of living, not a specific period or event. As a verb, it is more formal and less commonly used in daily speech.