生存

• Pinyin: shēng cún
• Hanzi breakdown: 生 = a plant sprouting from the ground, meaning to live; 存 = 子 (child) + component, meaning to exist or to preserve

Meaning

To survive; to exist; survival. The state of continuing to live, especially under difficult conditions.

More serious and formal than simply 活着 (being alive). 生存 emphasises survival in challenging circumstances — harsh environments, competition, or difficult conditions. Used in both literal (physical survival) and figurative (business survival) contexts. Common collocations: 生存环境 (living environment), 生存能力 (survival ability), 生存空间 (room for survival).

Examples

1. 在沙漠里生存需要足够的水和食物。 Surviving in the desert requires enough water and food.
2. 小公司在激烈的竞争中很难生存。 It's very hard for small companies to survive in fierce competition.
3. 学会生存技能对每个人都很重要。 Learning survival skills is important for everyone.

Usage Guide

Context: nature, biology, business, philosophy

Tone: serious

Do Say

• 动物需要适应环境才能生存。(Animals need to adapt to their environment to survive.)
• 水和空气是人类生存的基本条件。(Water and air are basic conditions for human survival.)

Don't Say

• 我每天在公司生存。(Don't use 生存 for routine daily work — it implies desperate struggle. For normal working life, just say 工作 or 生活.)

Origin & History

生 means to live or to be born; 存 means to exist or to survive. Together: to live and continue existing — survival.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal