活 (huó) — (verb) to live; (adjective) alive, living; (noun, colloquial) work, job
Definition
活 is a versatile word meaning 'to live,' 'alive/living,' and (colloquially) 'a job or piece of work' — the last sense is casual, while 工作 is the standard word for 'work.'
verb
to live(noun, colloquial) workjob
adjective
aliveliving
Examples
- 活。Tā huó dé hěn jiàn kāng.He lives very healthily.
- 活。Zhè zhī māo shì huó de.This cat is alive.
- 活。Zhè ge huó hěn qīng sōng.This job is very easy.
Origin
Sound + meaning六书liùshū
形声xíngshēngMost characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.
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
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