make a living; earn one's living; seek a livelihood
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesverb
to make a living; to earn one's living; to seek a livelihood; to get by
neutralOften implies working hard to survive, sometimes with a sense of struggle, hardship, or meager circumstances. Can be used neutrally or with a connotation of difficulty. Commonly used when referring to manual labor or low-wage work.
Tā他
nián年
qīng轻
shí时
kào靠
mài卖
lì力
qi气
tǎo讨
shēng生
huó活
。
He made a living by manual labor when he was young.
Zài在
zhè这
gè个
dà大
chéng城
shì市
tǎo讨
shēng生
huó活
bù不
róng容
yì易
。
It's not easy to make a living in this big city.
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Hěn很
duō多
rén人
bèi背
jǐng井
lí离
xiāng乡
dào到
wài外
dì地
qù去
tǎo讨
shēng生
huó活
。
Many people left their hometowns to seek a living in other places.
Fù父
qin亲
kào靠
zhe着
xiū修
lǐ理
zì自
xíng行
chē车
tǎo讨
shēng生
huó活
le了
yī一
bèi辈
zi子
。
Father spent his whole life making a living by repairing bicycles.