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March 24, 2026
出生chūshēng(chu1sheng1)
出生 (chūshēng) means 'to be born'. It is commonly used in contexts relating to someone's birth date or place, and can also refer to the beginning of a person’s life or existence. This term can also imply the origins or background of a person in discussions about identity or family.
Frequency#1555DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of birth is often linked to the zodiac and astrology, which influence personality traits and fortunes based on the date of birth. It is common to celebrate a child's first birthday with significant cultural rituals.
Memory Tip
To remember 出生, think of '出' (chū) meaning 'to come out' and '生' (shēng) meaning 'to live' or 'life'. Imagine a baby coming out into the world, marking the beginning of their life – they are 'born' when they 'come out'!
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AI Study Notes for 出生
Quick Contrast
出生 (chūshēng) vs 诞生 (dànshēng) — use 出生 when referring to the act of being born in a general sense, while 诞生 often carries a more formal or literary tone.
Memory Mnemonic
To remember 出生, think of '出' (chū) meaning 'to come out' and '生' (shēng) meaning 'to live' or 'life'. Imagine a baby coming out into the world, marking the beginning of their life – they are 'born' when they 'come out'!
Usage Notes
Common mistakes include confusing 出生 with 生活 (shēnghuó), which means 'to live', rather than focusing on the act of being born. It is used in both formal and informal contexts, but often appears in medical or personal discussions about birth. Be mindful of the tones; mispronouncing either syllable can change the meaning.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 4 word, 出生 connects to other vocabulary related to life and existence, such as 生活 (shēnghuó - to live) and 成长 (chéngzhǎng - to grow up). Students should focus on using 出生 in sentences about personal history or family.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of birth is often linked to the zodiac and astrology, which influence personality traits and fortunes based on the date of birth. It is common to celebrate a child's first birthday with significant cultural rituals.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly say '出生了' (chūshēng le) to imply 'was born' when they should use '出生' without '了' in a general statement. For example, instead of saying '他出生了在1990年' (Tā chūshēng le zài 1990 nián), it should be '他出生在1990年' (Tā chūshēng zài 1990 nián).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 出生
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Grammar Patterns of 出生
出生 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Swaddle your newborn baby so that she feels secure.
9
她出生在一场暴风雨中。
tā chū shēng zài yī cháng bào fēng yǔ zhōng。
She was born in the middle of a rain storm.
10
迈克尔出生的时候，我都乐得找不着北了。
mài kè ěr chū shēng de shí hòu， ， wǒ dū lè dé zhǎo bù zháo běi。
When Michael was born I was on cloud nine.
Cultural Notes for 出生
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the concept of birth is often linked to the zodiac and astrology, which influence personality traits and fortunes based on the date of birth. It is common to celebrate a child's first birthday with significant cultural rituals.
Frequently Asked Questions about 出生
You can say '你出生于哪一年？' (Nǐ chūshēng yú nǎ yī nián?), which means 'In which year were you born?'.
Yes, 出生 can also refer to the birth of animals, not just humans.
You can use 出生 in a formal context, but you might also see phrases like '出生日期' (chūshēng rìqī) meaning 'birth date'.
