survive; save a life; life
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
3 senses · 8 examplesverb
to keep alive; to survive; to eke out a living
Often used to describe a difficult or precarious existence.
Tā他
zài在
jiù旧
shè社
huì会
kào靠
mài卖
yì艺
huó活
mìng命
。
He eked out a living by performing in the old society.
Zāi灾
mín民
men们
zhǐ只
néng能
kào靠
yǒu有
xiàn限
de的
jiù救
jì济
liáng粮
huó活
mìng命
。
The disaster victims can only survive on limited relief grain.
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Zhè这
fèn份
gōng工
zuò作
zhèng挣
de的
qián钱
gāng刚
gòu够
huó活
mìng命
。
The money from this job is just enough to get by.
verb
to save someone's life
Often used in the context of a great favor or debt of gratitude.
Huó活
mìng命
zhī之
ēn恩
，
yǒng永
shì世
bù不
wàng忘
。
I will never forget the kindness of you saving my life.
Yī医
shēng生
miào妙
shǒu手
huí回
chūn春
，
huó活
mìng命
wú无
shù数
。
The doctor's skillful treatment has saved countless lives.
noun
life; lifeblood
Can refer to a person's life or to something essential for survival.
Liú留
tā他
yī一
tiáo条
huó活
mìng命
。
Spare his life.
Shuǐ水
shì是
zhuāng庄
jia稼
de的
huó活
mìng命
zhī之
yuán源
。
Water is the lifeblood of crops.
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Duì对
tā他
lái来
shuō说
，
yīn音
yuè乐
jiù就
shì是
tā他
de的
huó活
mìng命
。
For him, music is his very life.