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生物 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
生物shēngwùorganismHSK 5, n, rank #2033, Hard
生物shēngwùliving creatureHSK 5, n, rank #2033, Hard
生物shēngwùlife formHSK 5, n, rank #2033, Hard
生物shēngwùbiologicalHSK 5, n, rank #2033, Hard
生物shēngwù>个[gè]HSK 5, n, rank #2033, Hard
shēngwù(sheng1wu4) T1
  1. 1organism
  2. 2living creature
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March 24, 2026
生物shēngwù(sheng1wu4)

生物 (shēngwù) refers to any living organism, including plants, animals, and microorganisms. It is commonly used in biological contexts, such as science, ecology, and discussions about life forms. The term emphasizes the characteristics and existence of living entities in nature.

Frequency#2033DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of 生物 is essential in traditional medicine, where understanding living organisms, especially plants, is crucial for health practices. This reflects a deep respect for nature and its life forms in Chinese philosophy.

Memory Tip

Think of 生 (shēng) meaning 'to live' or 'life' and 物 (wù) meaning 'thing' or 'object'. Imagine a vibrant scene in nature, where everything alive (生) is interacting with various objects (物) around them, helping you remember that 生物 encompasses all living things.

Meanings of 生物

shēngwù(sheng1wu4)
1organism
2living creature
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 生物

生物Simplified
—Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#2033Frequency Rank
个Measure Word
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L5AdvancedCEFRC2

Podcast: 生物

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Podcast: 生物

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AI Study Notes for 生物

Quick Contrast

动物 (dòngwù) - use 生物 (shēngwù) for a broader category that includes all living organisms, whereas 动物 (dòngwù) specifically refers to animals.

Memory Mnemonic

Think of 生 (shēng) meaning 'to live' or 'life' and 物 (wù) meaning 'thing' or 'object'. Imagine a vibrant scene in nature, where everything alive (生) is interacting with various objects (物) around them, helping you remember that 生物 encompasses all living things.

Usage Notes

Be cautious with the tone when pronouncing 生 (shēng) and 物 (wù) to avoid confusion. In formal settings, use 生物 when discussing biology or life sciences, but in casual conversation, you might hear it used more broadly. Common collocations include 生物学 (biology) and 生物体 (organism).

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK 6 word, 生物 connects with other scientific terms and concepts at this level, such as 生态 (ecology) and 进化 (evolution). Students should focus on using it in various contexts related to biology and life sciences, enhancing their vocabulary in academic discussions.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of 生物 is essential in traditional medicine, where understanding living organisms, especially plants, is crucial for health practices. This reflects a deep respect for nature and its life forms in Chinese philosophy.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 生物 (shēngwù) with 生命 (shēngmìng), mistakenly using them interchangeably. For example, saying '我学习生命' (wǒ xuéxí shēngmìng) to mean 'I study organisms' is incorrect; it should be '我学习生物' (wǒ xuéxí shēngwù).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 生物

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Component Characters

生shēngto be born
HSK 45 strokes生
View full entry
物wùthing
HSK 28 strokes牛
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Write 生物

生
物

Practice writing 生物 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Grammar Patterns of 生物

生物 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 5 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.

Related grammar lessons1
Exercise 1 of 1

Complete the Sentence

该地区的____多样性极为丰富。

The biodiversity of said region is extremely rich.

Example Sentences for 生物 (10)

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1
冷水中生物的基础代谢速度要低很多。

lěng shuǐ zhōng shēng wù de jī chǔ dài xiè sù dù yào dī hěn duō。

Basal metabolism is much lower for creatures in cold water.
2
这片潮湿地区也吸引了青蛙、蟾蜍和蝾螈一类的生物。

zhè piàn cháo shī dì qū yě xī yǐn le qīng wā、 、 chán chú hé róng yuán yī lèi de shēng。

This wet area also attracts frogs, toads and newts.
3
忽视疲劳感会打乱我们的生物钟。

hū shì pí láo gǎn huì dǎ luàn wǒ mén de shēng wù zhōng。

Ignoring feelings of tiredness knocks our body clocks out of kilter.
4
有些生物会导致食物变质并引起食物中毒。

yǒu xiē shēng wù huì dǎo zhì shí wù biàn zhì bìng yǐn qǐ shí wù zhōng dú。

Some organisms are responsible for spoiling food and cause food poisoning.
5
蓝鲸是地球上体型最大的生物。

lán jīng shì dì qiú shàng tǐ xíng zuì dà de shēng wù。

The blue whale is the largest living thing on the planet.
6
生物系统亿万年来一直都是这样。

shēng wù xì tǒng yì wàn nián lái yī zhí dū shì zhè yàng。

Biological systems have been doing this for billions of years.
7
显然, 生物体对这两种同分异构体能够有所识别.

xiǎn rán, , shēng wù tǐ duì zhè liǎng zhǒng tóng fēn yì gòu tǐ néng gòu yǒu suǒ shí.

Evidently, living things can somehow distinguish between optical isomers.
8
她无法解答生物学试卷上的头两道题.

tā wú fǎ jiě dá shēng wù xué shì juàn shàng de tóu liǎng dào tí.

She couldn't touch the first two questions in the biology paper.
9
这种鱼靠吃浮游生物为生。

zhè zhǒng yú kào chī fú yóu shēng wù wéi shēng。

The fish live on the plankton.
10
我们去上生物课而不去上英语课.

wǒ mén qù shàng shēng wù kè ér bù qù shàng yīng yǔ kè.

We went to the Biology class instead of attending the English lesson.

Cultural Notes for 生物

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, the concept of 生物 is essential in traditional medicine, where understanding living organisms, especially plants, is crucial for health practices. This reflects a deep respect for nature and its life forms in Chinese philosophy.

Frequently Asked Questions about 生物

While primarily used in scientific contexts, 生物 can also appear in everyday conversations when discussing nature or living things.