活生生 (huó shēng shēng) — vividly real; in real life; while still alive (often with a dramatic or negative tone)

Definition

An adverbial bound form meaning 'vividly, in real life' (活生生地 + verb) or 'while still alive' — often adds a shocking or stark tone. Compared to plain 生动, it emphasizes that something felt real and inescapable rather than merely lively.

bound form
vividly realin real lifewhile still alive (often with a dramatic or negative tone)

Examples

  • 活生生，。
    Tā huó shēng shēng dì zhàn zài wǒ miàn qián, ràng wǒ bù gǎn xiāng xìn.
    She stood right in front of me, alive and real, making me unable to believe it.
  • 活生生，。
    Zhè shì yí gè huó shēng shēng de lì zi, shuō míng bù nǔ lì jiù huì shī bài.
    This is a vivid example showing that if you don't work hard, you'll fail.
  • 活生生，。
    Tā bèi huó shēng shēng dì guān zài nà ge xiǎo fáng jiān lǐ, wú fǎ chū qù.
    He was locked in that small room while still alive, unable to get out.

Origin

Derived word
构词法gòucífǎ
后缀hòuzhuìSuffix

A fixed syllable at the end that turns the word into a noun, a person, a place or the like.

活huóalive
生生vividly
生shēnglife生shēnglife
重叠Reduplication

活 conveys being alive, and 生生 intensifies that sense, giving a vivid, real quality.

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
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.

Open 活 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

生 shows 屮 (a bud) above 一 (the ground), drawing a sprout coming up from the earth.

Open 生 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

生 shows 屮 (a bud) above 一 (the ground), drawing a sprout coming up from the earth.

Open 生 →

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.