生 (shēng) - to be born & to give birth

生Tone 1

shēng ｜ 5 strokes ｜ radical: 生

上姝

生 · shēng

to be born;

to give birth;

life;

to grow;

raw;

unripe;

student;

unfamiliar

to be bornto give birthlife

Usage highlights

LifeStudentBirthTo produceBiologyRaw

Synonyms

  • 活— to live; alive
  • 命— life; fate
  • 产— to produce; to give birth

Antonyms

  • 死— to die; death
  • 熟— cooked; ripe; familiar

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He was born in Beijing (出生在北京).
  • Life is precious (生命是宝贵的).
  • I am a student (我是学生).
  • Don't eat raw meat (不要吃生肉).

Collocations

  • Life(生命)
  • Student(学生)
  • Birth(出生)
  • To produce(生产)
  • Biology(生物学)
  • Raw(生的)

Idioms

  • Life is like a dream(浮生若梦)
  • To bring a dead person back to life(起死回生)
  • To make a living(谋生)
  • To be born and grow up(生养)
  • To live and work in peace and contentment(安居乐生)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • One of the most fundamental characters in Chinese philosophy, representing the concept of life and growth.
  • In Confucianism, it relates to the continuity of family and the importance of progeny.
  • In Daoism, it symbolizes the natural process of growth and transformation.

FAQ