在世 (zài shì) — to be alive (in the world), to be living

Definition

A formal way to say someone is still alive, often used about the deceased in hindsight (e.g. 'his parents are still 在世'). Everyday speech usually prefers 活着.

verb
to be alive (in the world)to be living

Examples

  • 在世
    Tā de fù mǔ dōu hái zài shì, shēn tǐ hěn jiàn kāng.
    His parents are still alive and in good health.
  • 在世
    Nà wèi zuò jiā yǐ jīng bú zài shì le, dàn zuò pǐn yī rán liú chuán.
    That writer has already passed away, but his works still circulate.
  • 在世
    Zhǐ yào wǒ zài shì yì tiān, jiù bú huì fàng qì zhè ge mèng xiǎng.
    As long as I'm alive, I won't give up this dream.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

zàibe/in
shìworld

在 'be/in' and 世 'world' combine to mean being in the world, alive.

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.

The early form of 在 used 才 for its sound; a second sound part 士 was added later, and that 士 became the 土 seen in 在.

Open 在 →

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 世 →

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