生动 (shēng dòng) means 'vivid, lively' and is used for descriptions, performances, or writing that feel lifelike and detailed. It differs from 活泼 (huó pō), which describes a person's energetic personality, and from 形象 (xíng xiàng), which as an adjective means 'graphic' but focuses on visual imagery. 鲜明 (xiān míng) emphasizes clear contrast or bright colors.