life; survival
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 5 examplesnoun
life (of humans and animals); existence; survival
formalOften used in contexts emphasizing the value, danger, or preservation of life. It can sound more formal or literary than the simpler word '命'.
Zài在
huǒ火
zāi灾
zhōng中
，
tā他
mào冒
zhe着
shēng生
mìng命
wēi危
xiǎn险
qù去
jiù救
rén人
。
During the fire, he risked his life to save people.
Zhè这
zhī只
māo猫
de的
xìng性
mìng命
quán全
kào靠
nǐ你
le了
。
This cat's life depends entirely on you.
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Qián钱
cái财
shì是
shēn身
wài外
zhī之
wù物
，
xìng性
mìng命
cái才
shì是
zuì最
zhòng重
yào要
de的
。
Money and possessions are external things; life is what matters most.
Jiǔ酒
hòu后
kāi开
chē车
，
jiǎn简
zhí直
shì是
zài在
ná拿
zì自
jǐ己
de的
xìng性
mìng命
kāi开
wán玩
xiào笑
。
Drunk driving is basically playing with one's own life.
Bǎo保
hù护
yě野
shēng生
dòng动
wù物
，
jiù就
shì是
bǎo保
hù护
dì地
qiú球
de的
shēng生
wù物
duō多
yàng样
xìng性
，
yě也
shì是
zài在
bǎo保
hù护
wǒ我
men们
zì自
jǐ己
de的
xìng性
mìng命
。
Protecting wild animals means protecting the planet's biodiversity and also protecting our own lives.