存 (cún) - to exist & to live

存Tone 2

cún ｜ 6 strokes ｜ radical: 子

橙丁

存 · cún

to exist;

to live;

to store;

to keep;

to preserve;

to accumulate;

to deposit

to existto liveto store

Usage highlights

to existto save/preserveto store/accumulatesurvivaldeposit moneystorage

Synonyms

  • 保存— to preserve, to keep
  • 储存— to store, to accumulate
  • 存在— to exist, existence

Antonyms

  • 亡— to perish, to die
  • 消— to disappear, to vanish
  • 灭— to destroy, to extinguish

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • Please save this file (保存文件).
  • The library has a large collection of books (藏书).
  • He lives in Beijing (存身于北京).
  • We need to store food for winter (储存食物).

Collocations

  • to exist(存在)
  • to save/preserve(保存)
  • to store/accumulate(储存)
  • survival(生存)
  • deposit money(存款)
  • storage(存储)

Idioms

  • To preserve life and complete integrity(存亡继绝)
  • Life and death, survival and extinction(存亡绝续)
  • To harbor evil intentions(心存不轨)
  • To store grain and conserve fodder(存粮蓄草)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In Confucian philosophy, 存 often refers to preserving moral integrity and cultural traditions.
  • The character embodies the concept of continuity and preservation in Chinese culture.
  • In business contexts, 存 is associated with savings and financial security.

FAQ