HSK 4, vn, 9 strokes, radical 氵, rank #311, Medium
活
huó
alive
HSK 4, vn, 9 strokes, radical 氵, rank #311, Medium
活
huó
living
HSK 4, vn, 9 strokes, radical 氵, rank #311, Medium
活
huó
work
HSK 4, vn, 9 strokes, radical 氵, rank #311, Medium
活
huó
workmanship
HSK 4, vn, 9 strokes, radical 氵, rank #311, Medium
活
huó
to exist, to live, to survive; living, working
HSK 4, vn, 9 strokes, radical 氵, rank #311, Medium
huó(huo2) T2
1to live
2alive
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March 24, 2026
活huó(huo2)
The character 活 (huó) means 'to live' or 'alive.' It is commonly used to describe the state of being alive, the act of living, and can also refer to work or activity in a broader sense. In various contexts, it can imply vitality, existence, or even craftsmanship.
Strokes9Radical氵Frequency#311DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of life (活) is often celebrated through festivals and traditions that honor ancestors, highlighting the value placed on living a fulfilling life. The phrase 活得精彩 (huó dé jīngcǎi – to live wonderfully) reflects a common aspiration within society.
Memory Tip
Imagine a lively person jumping out of bed in the morning; this person embodies 活 (huó) as they are full of life. The character features the radical for 'water' (氵) on the left, suggesting the fluidity and essential nature of life, while the right side can resemble a person (亻), emphasizing a living being.
Meanings of 活
huó(huo2)
1to live
2alive
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 活
活Simplified
9Strokes
氵Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#311Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L4ElementaryTOCFLL3HSKKL2BCT✓CEFRA2
Podcast: 活
Podcast: 活
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AI Study Notes for 活
Quick Contrast
活 (huó) vs 生 (shēng) — use 活 for the act of living or being alive, while 生 emphasizes the state of birth or existence.
Usage Notes
Be cautious when using 活 in different contexts; it can convey both literal and figurative meanings. In conversational Chinese, it is common to use it in expressions like '活着' (huó zhe - to be alive), but avoid using it in overly formal contexts where more sophisticated terms may be preferred, such as 生存 (shēngcún - to survive).
HSK Study Tips
活 is generally considered an HSK level 3 word, connecting to other basic verbs about actions and states of being. Students should focus on using it in simple sentences to describe daily activities and their state of being, linking it to related words like 生活 (shēnghuó - life) and 活动 (huódòng - activity).
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 活 with 生 (shēng) and use it incorrectly in phrases. For example, saying '我生着' instead of '我活着' (wǒ huó zhe - I am alive) is incorrect; 生 is not used in this context.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 活
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Phonosemantic compound. 氵 represents the meaning and 舌 represents the sound.
1The meaning half氵 carries the sense.
2The sound half舌 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawaywater
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 活? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 活?
Decomposition of 活
IDS Structure⿰氵舌
活Full Character
=
氵shui3
left
舌she2
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 活?
How to say to live in Chinese
“to live” in Chinese is活huó
The character 活 (huó) means 'to live' or 'alive.' It is commonly used to describe the state of being alive, the act of living, and can also refer to work or activity in a broader sense. In various contexts, it can imply vitality, existence, or even craftsmanship.
When to use 活
Be cautious when using 活 in different contexts; it can convey both literal and figurative meanings. In conversational Chinese, it is common to use it in expressions like '活着' (huó zhe - to be alive), but avoid using it in overly formal contexts where more sophisticated terms may be preferred, such as 生存 (shēngcún - to survive).
活 or something close to it
活 (huó) vs 生 (shēng) — use 活 for the act of living or being alive, while 生 emphasizes the state of birth or existence.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 活 with 生 (shēng) and use it incorrectly in phrases. For example, saying '我生着' instead of '我活着' (wǒ huó zhe - I am alive) is incorrect; 生 is not used in this context.
Write 活
活
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Practice writing 活 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 活
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 6 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.
活 can mean 'to live' or 'alive' in a biological sense, but it can also refer to work or activities, such as in the phrase 活动 (huódòng - activities).
You can use 活 to describe life, such as in '我活着' (wǒ huó zhe - I am alive) or in contexts discussing work, like '我在这里活着工作' (wǒ zài zhèlǐ huó zhe gōngzuò - I work here to live).
活 is more commonly used in informal speech and writing. In formal contexts, you might opt for 生存 (shēngcún) when discussing survival.
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