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过日子 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
过日子guòrìzito live one's lifeHSK 7, unknown, 13 strokes, rank #8167, Very Hard
过日子guòrìzito pass one's daysHSK 7, unknown, 13 strokes, rank #8167, Very Hard
过日子guòrìzito get alongHSK 7, unknown, 13 strokes, rank #8167, Very Hard
guòrìzi(guo4ri4zi5)guo ri zi T4
  1. 1to live one's life
  2. 2to pass one's days
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March 24, 2026

过日子(過日子)guòrìzi(guo4ri4zi5)

过日子 refers to the act of living one's life or passing one's days. It conveys a sense of managing daily life, often with an emphasis on the routine and practical aspects of existence, such as work, family, and responsibilities.

Strokes13Frequency#8167DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, the phrase 过日子 emphasizes the importance of daily life and familial responsibilities, reflecting traditional values of hard work and perseverance. It often implies a sense of stability and contentment in one's life.

Memory tip

Imagine a person 'going through' (过) each day (日) like a book (子), turning the pages of their life. The character 过 resembles a path you travel, and 日 reminds you of the sun rising each day, symbolizing the passage of time.

Meanings of 过日子

guòrìzi(guo4ri4zi5)
1to live one's life
2to pass one's days
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About 过日子

过日子Simplified
過日子Traditional
13Strokes
—Radical
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

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AI study notes for 过日子

Usage Notes

This phrase is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts. Learners should be cautious with the tone, as the first character 过 is pronounced in the fourth tone, which can be mistaken for a different meaning if mispronounced. Common collocations include 过日子 together with verbs like '好' (to live well) or '快' (to live quickly).

HSK Study Tips

While not specifically listed in HSK vocabulary, 过日子 relates to HSK Level 3 and above concepts of daily activities and living. Students should focus on how this phrase can be used in conversations about lifestyle and daily routines, connecting it with other daily vocabulary.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 过日子 with simpler phrases like 生活 (shēnghuó) which means 'to live' but lacks the nuance of daily management. For instance, saying '我生活' (wǒ shēnghuó) instead of '我过日子' (wǒ guò rìzi) can lead to misunderstandings about the intended meaning.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 过日子

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Component characters

过guò(experienced action marker)
HSK 26 strokes辶
View full entry
日rìsun
HSK 14 strokes日
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子zison
HSK 33 strokes子
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How to say to live one's life in Chinese

“to live one's life” in Chinese is过日子guòrìzi

过日子 refers to the act of living one's life or passing one's days. It conveys a sense of managing daily life, often with an emphasis on the routine and practical aspects of existence, such as work, family, and responsibilities.

When to use 过日子

This phrase is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts. Learners should be cautious with the tone, as the first character 过 is pronounced in the fourth tone, which can be mistaken for a different meaning if mispronounced. Common collocations include 过日子 together with verbs like '好' (to live well) or '快' (to live quickly).

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 过日子 with simpler phrases like 生活 (shēnghuó) which means 'to live' but lacks the nuance of daily management. For instance, saying '我生活' (wǒ shēnghuó) instead of '我过日子' (wǒ guò rìzi) can lead to misunderstandings about the intended meaning.

Write 过日子

过
日
子

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Frequently asked questions about 过日子

While 过日子 can imply enjoying life, it often has a more neutral or practical connotation. For a fun lifestyle, you might use phrases like 享受生活 (xiǎngshòu shēnghuó) instead.

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