生 is the character for “life”. It is made out of 5 strokes.
| Chinese Character | Simplified Version | Bopomofo | Pinyin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 生 | 生 | ㄕㄥ | shēng |
Definition
Life; to be born; to give birth; to grow; raw; uncooked; student
Historical Origins
The Chinese character 生 is an ideogrammic compound. It combines 屮 (“bud”) and 一 (“ground”) to depict a bud sprouting from the earth. This imagery symbolizes growth, life, and the process of emerging or coming into existence.
In its earliest forms, 生 was more pictorial, showing the idea of something breaking through the ground, representing new beginnings or vitality. Over time, the character was simplified to its modern form while retaining the core idea of life and growth. Today, 生 carries meanings related to birth, existence, and production, reflecting its origins as a symbol of natural emergence and vitality.
Vocabulary with the Character 生
| Chinese | Bopomofo | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| 生活 | ㄕㄥ ㄏㄨㄛˊ | shēnghuó | Life; Living |
| 生氣 | ㄕㄥ ㄑㄧˋ | shēngqì | Angry; To get angry |
| 生病 | ㄕㄥ ㄅㄧㄥˋ | shēngbìng | To fall ill; Sick |
| 生存 | ㄕㄥ ㄘㄨㄣˊ | shēngcún | To survive; Survival |
| 生產 | ㄕㄥ ㄔㄢˇ | shēngchǎn | To produce; Production |
| 生意 | ㄕㄥ ㄧˋ | shēngyì | Business |
| 學生 | ㄒㄩㄝˊ ㄕㄥ | xuéshēng | Student |
| 新生 | ㄒㄧㄣ ㄕㄥ | xīnshēng | Newborn; New life |
| 生育 | ㄕㄥ ㄩˋ | shēngyù | To give birth; Fertility |
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