Definitions

shēng (verb) to be born; to give birth
shēng (noun) life; living
shēng (verb) to grow
shēng (adjective) raw; uncooked
shēng (noun) student

Etymology

Pictograph of a sprout () emerging from the ground ().

About

The character 生 (shēng) originated as a pictograph of a young plant shoot breaking through the soil. Its top strokes depict the emerging sprout and leaves, while the bottom horizontal line represents the ground. From this core meaning of sprouting or growing, the character expanded to encompass broader concepts like giving birth, producing, and the state of being alive. This agricultural origin also led to secondary meanings for something raw, unripe, or unprocessed.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Warring States (~250 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我是一个学

Wǒ shì yī gè xuéshēng.

I am a student.

今天是我的日。

Jīntiān shì wǒ de shēngrì.

Today is my birthday.

气地离开了。

Tā shēngqì de líkāi le.

She left angrily.

活很美好。

Shēnghuó hěn měihǎo.

Life is beautiful.

这个故事发在北京。

Zhège gùshì fāshēng zài Běijīng.

This story happened in Beijing.

植物需要阳光才能长。

Zhíwù xūyào yángguāng cáinéng shēngzhǎng.

Plants need sunlight to grow.

产过程中要注意安全。

Shēngchǎn guòchéng zhōng yào zhùyì ānquán.

During the production process, safety must be attended to.

命的价值在于奉献。

Shēngmìng de jiàzhí zàiyú fèngxiàn.

The value of life lies in contribution.