The word 生活 is formed by combining two conceptual characters, each contributing a essential layer of meaning to create a holistic idea. The first character, 生, carries the core notion of birth, genesis, and inherent existence, the raw fact of being alive. The second, 活, introduces the dynamic, active principle of living, encompassing movement, activity, and sustained vitality. Together, they merge into a single concept where 生 provides the foundational state of existence and 活 animates it with continuous action and experience, thus fully encapsulating "life" as both a state of being and the active process of living it.