Kilo Lingo

(shēng mìng) - life (of a living being) in Mandarin

shēngmìng

Traditional: 生命

Line drawing of 生命
Coloured illustration of 生命
HSK 4
#451 of 5,000 Core 1000

Translation

life (of a living being)

Word origin

生命 (shēng mìng) pairs 生 (shēng), 'to be born' or 'life', a pictograph of a sprouting plant, with 命 (mìng), 'life' or 'fate', which combines a mouth or command element with 令 'to order'. Together they mean the 'life' of a living being.

Origin
compound
Root
生 (shēng, life) + 命 (mìng, life/fate)

Stroke order

Stroke order for 生

Stroke order for 命

Examples

Life is precious.

He protected his family with his life.

zhēn

Please cherish life.

The doctor saved his life.

There are always surprises in life.

生命 (shēng mìng) - life (of a living being).

Where this fits

Used in

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Mandarin · Free printables

生命: worksheet, infographic and listicle

Free printable study downloads for the Mandarin word "生命" (life (of a living being)): a worksheet with the answer key built in, an infographic, and a sentence listicle. Open any one to view, print or save.

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This word is part of lesson 10.