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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.
Strokes14Frequency#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
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About 生活
生活Simplified
14Strokes
—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.
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.
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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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.
When to use 生活
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).
生活 or something close to it
日常生活 (rìcháng shēnghuó) refers specifically to daily routines, while 生活 (shēnghuó) encompasses a broader range of life experiences.
What learners get wrong
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.
Write 生活
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.
