clothing, food, housing and transport (idiom); people's basic needs
HSK 6, unknown, rank #39703, Very Hard
yīshízhùxíng(yi1shi2zhu4xing2) T1
1clothing, food, housing and transport (idiom); people's basic needs
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
衣食住行()yīshízhùxíng(yi1shi2zhu4xing2)
The idiom 衣食住行 (yī shí zhù xíng) refers to the four basic necessities of life: clothing, food, housing, and transportation. It emphasizes the fundamental requirements for living comfortably and is often used in discussions about quality of life or economic conditions.
Frequency#39703DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of 衣食住行 reflects the historical importance of basic needs in societal development. During economic reforms, improving these aspects became a priority, symbolizing progress and quality of life.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person juggling four items: a shirt (衣), a bowl of rice (食), a house (住), and a bicycle (行). Each item represents a basic need, and the image of juggling makes it memorable that without any one of these, daily life becomes challenging.
Meanings of 衣食住行
yīshízhùxíng(yi1shi2zhu4xing2)
1clothing, food, housing and transport (idiom); people's basic needs
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 衣食住行
衣食住行Simplified
Traditional
—Strokes
—Radical
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L6AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 衣食住行
Podcast: 衣食住行
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 衣食住行
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a person juggling four items: a shirt (衣), a bowl of rice (食), a house (住), and a bicycle (行). Each item represents a basic need, and the image of juggling makes it memorable that without any one of these, daily life becomes challenging.
Usage Notes
This idiom is typically used in both formal and informal contexts to discuss living standards. A common mistake is to treat it as separate words rather than as a single phrase. Remember to use it in discussions about basic needs or societal issues.
HSK Study Tips
Though this idiom is not directly listed in HSK levels, it encompasses vocabulary from levels 1 to 4, including words for clothing (衣), food (食), and housing (住). Focus on understanding how these elements interact in discussions about daily life.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of 衣食住行 reflects the historical importance of basic needs in societal development. During economic reforms, improving these aspects became a priority, symbolizing progress and quality of life.
Common Mistakes
Learners often forget the order of the components when using the idiom, mistakenly saying '住行衣食.' Always remember to use 衣食住行 in the correct order to convey the intended meaning.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 衣食住行
Premium — Locked
AI tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 衣食住行 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 衣食住行 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Write correctly 3 times to earn XP
Cultural Notes for 衣食住行
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the concept of 衣食住行 reflects the historical importance of basic needs in societal development. During economic reforms, improving these aspects became a priority, symbolizing progress and quality of life.
Frequently Asked Questions about 衣食住行
No, this idiom specifically refers to essential needs; using it for non-essentials would be incorrect.
Yes, it's frequently used in discussions about living conditions and societal issues.
You could think of the sequence as a daily routine: you wear clothes, eat food, live in a house, and then move around.
