死活 (sǐ huó) — life and death; fate; (colloquial, adverb) no m… | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

A set noun for 'life and death' (as in 关系到死活) that also works colloquially as an adverb meaning 'no matter what, stubbornly' — placed before a verb to show the speaker absolutely refuses or insists (我死活不去).

noun

life and deathfate(colloquial, adverb) no matter whatanywaysimply (refusing or insisting at all cost)

Examples

死活，。
Zhè shì guān xì dào gōng sī de sǐ huó, dà jiā yí dìng yào rèn zhēn duì dài.
This matter concerns the life and death of the company, so everyone must take it seriously.
死活，。
Wǒ sǐ huó bù tóng yì tā de kàn fǎ, tài jí duān le.
I simply cannot agree with his view — it's too extreme.
，死活。
Mā ma jiào tā chī fàn, tā sǐ huó bù kěn chū lái.
Mom called him to eat, but he just refused to come out no matter what.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

The 死 and 活 senses name opposite states, together giving life-and-death stakes.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

尸

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

死 is built from 歹 and 尸: 歹 is the part tied to the meaning, and 尸 gives the sound.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

氵Written in full as水shuǐwater

Sound part声符shēngfú

𠯑

𠯑𠯑活huó

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

活 is built from 氵 (water) and 𠯑, which shows the sound; 𠯑 later changed into 舌.

Appears in

Abstract Concepts

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