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March 24, 2026
生活shēnghuó(sheng1huo2)
生活 (shēnghuó) refers to the concept of life and the activities associated with living. It encompasses both the physical aspects of existence, such as daily routines and livelihood, and the broader emotional and social experiences of life. Commonly used in contexts discussing lifestyle, work, and personal experiences.
Frequency#244DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
生活 is often associated with the concept of 'living well' in Chinese culture, emphasizing balance between work, family, and leisure. The idea of quality of life is increasingly important in modern Chinese society.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person (生, shēng) who is bursting with life (活, huó) as they engage in various activities every day. The two characters together form 'life', reminding you that living means being active and involved!
Meanings of 生活
shēnghuó(sheng1huo2)
1life
2activity
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 生活
生活Simplified
—Strokes
—Radical
名动词dòngcíverb-noun (v.-n.)Part of Speech
#244Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L4HSK 3.0L3ElementaryTOCFLL2HSKKL1CEFRA1
Podcast: 生活
Podcast: 生活
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AI Study Notes for 生活
Quick Contrast
日常生活 (rìcháng shēnghuó) refers specifically to daily routines, while 生活 (shēnghuó) encompasses a broader range of life experiences.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a person (生, shēng) who is bursting with life (活, huó) as they engage in various activities every day. The two characters together form 'life', reminding you that living means being active and involved!
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 生活 (shēnghuó) with just 'life' in a philosophical sense; it often implies practical aspects. It can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but is more common in everyday conversation. Common collocations include 生活方式 (lifestyle) and 生活费 (living expenses).
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK 4 word, 生活 connects to other vocabulary related to daily life and activities, such as 工作 (work) and 学习 (study). Focus on using it in sentences that describe your daily routines or lifestyle choices to reinforce its meaning.
Cultural Note
生活 is often associated with the concept of 'living well' in Chinese culture, emphasizing balance between work, family, and leisure. The idea of quality of life is increasingly important in modern Chinese society.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly use 生活 in contexts where 'life' is meant in a more abstract or philosophical sense. For example, saying '生活是美好的' (Life is beautiful) is less common; instead, you might say '生活很有趣' (Life is interesting) to emphasize the practical aspects.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 生活
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Grammar Patterns of 生活
生活 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. It carries 4 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
wǒ de sī rén shēng huó bù dé bù ràng wèi yú shì yè。
My personal life has had to take second place to my career.
8
我可以自由支配自己的生活。
wǒ kě yǐ zì yóu zhī pèi zì jǐ de shēng huó。
I was allowed to do whatever I wanted with my life.
9
你的生活从那时起一定非常平淡无奇。
nǐ de shēng huó cóng nà shí qǐ yī dìng fēi cháng píng dàn wú qí。
Your life since then must have seemed very ordinary.
10
重要的是不要让错误毁了你的生活。
zhòng yào de shì bù yào ràng cuò wù huǐ le nǐ de shēng huó。
It's important not to let mistakes spoil your life.
Cultural Notes for 生活
🏮Cultural insight
生活 is often associated with the concept of 'living well' in Chinese culture, emphasizing balance between work, family, and leisure. The idea of quality of life is increasingly important in modern Chinese society.
Frequently Asked Questions about 生活
While 生活 primarily refers to everyday living, it can also be used in a broader context but is less common in philosophical discussions.
The term for 'lifestyle' is 生活方式 (shēnghuó fāngshì), which combines 生活 with 方式 (way/method).
Common phrases include 生活费 (living expenses) and 生活习惯 (habits of life).
