生 means “life”

いのち · inochi

Also: genuine, birth

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading): いきる, いかす, いける, うまれる, うまれ
On'yomi (Chinese reading): セイ, ショウ

JLPT N5 · Taught in grade 1 · 5 strokes

The story

A sprout breaking through the earth: life emerges as a force that insists on growth despite all obstacles.

Also read as "sei," appearing in words like sensei (先生) and student

Where it comes from

Pictographic (象形文字): A plant sprouting from the earth.

Life is a sprout pushing through the earth. The ancient form showed a young plant emerging from the ground, and the modern character preserves this perfectly: the top strokes are the leaves, and the bottom horizontal line is the earth it grows from.

To remember it: A plant sprouting upward from the ground line: new life beginning.

Its parts

生 Life · Entire character

A plant growing from the earth: life, birth, to live

Words with 生

生花 (いけばな, ikebana): flower arrangement
人生 (じんせい, jinsei): life (human life)
生魚 (なまざかな, namazakana): raw fish
学生 (がくせい, gakusei): student
先生 (せんせい, sensei): teacher

Example sentences

生まれたのはどこですか。 Where were you born?
先生は優しい人です。 The teacher is a kind person.
生活は楽しいです。 Life is enjoyable.

Kanji that look like 生

牛 (cow): 生 has an extra horizontal stroke: life has more layers than a cow

More from People & Life

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