生活

Étymologie et composants

The Chinese word 生活 (shēnghuó) for "life" is composed of two characters: 生 (shēng) and 活 (huó). The character 生 originally meant "to give birth" or "to grow", and it is often used in words related to life and growth, such as 生命 (shēngmìng, "life"), 生长 (shēngzhǎng, "to grow"), and 生存 (shēngcún, "to survive"). The character 活 originally meant "to move" or "to be active", and it is often used in words related to movement and activity, such as 活动 (huódòng, "activity"), 活泼 (huópō, "lively"), and 活力 (huólì, "vitality").When combined together, the characters 生 and 活 create the word 生活, which refers to the state of being alive and the activities that are necessary for survival. It encompasses the physical, mental, and emotional aspects of life, including work, study, family, relationships, and leisure activities. 生活 is a fundamental concept in Chinese culture, and it is often used in greetings and well-wishes, such as 生活愉快 (shēnghuó yǔkuài, "have a happy life") and 生活美满 (shēnghuó měimǎn, "have a fulfilling life").