生命 shēngmìng life
How to remember 生命: 生 life + 命 life = life.
Characters
How it is used
- Life in the biological/existential sense - 生命很宝贵 (shēngmìng hěn bǎoguì) life is precious; 挽救生命 (wǎnjiù shēngmìng) save a life.
- Distinct from 生活 (shēnghuó, daily life/living) and 一生 (yìshēng, a lifetime): 生命 is life as a vital force or existence, not lifestyle.
- Common in weighty contexts: safety, medicine, biology, meaning of life.
Example sentences
- 我爱我的生命。 Wǒ ài wǒ de shēngmìng.I love my life.
- 我们要爱护生命。 Wǒmen yào àihù shēngmìng.We should love and protect all lives.
- 我知道生命是短暂的。 Wǒ zhīdào shēngmìng shì duǎnzàn de.I know life is short.