How do you use "earn a living" in a sentence?

He earns a living as a carpenter. It is hard to earn a living in this city. She earns a decent living from freelance work.

earn a living

Q: What does "earn a living" mean?

To make enough money to support yourself through work We say 'earn a living' not 'win a living' or 'gain a living'. The verb 'earn' is the fixed partner for 'a living' in this expression.

Collocation BritishAmericanAustralian ★★★★★ Very Common Neutral

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Significado: To make enough money to support yourself through work

通过工作赚到足够维持生计的钱

Ganar suficiente dinero con el trabajo para mantenerse

仕事を通じて生活するのに十分なお金を稼ぐこと

일을 통해 생활할 수 있을 만큼의 돈을 버는 것

We say 'earn a living' not 'win a living' or 'gain a living'. The verb 'earn' is the fixed partner for 'a living' in this expression.

我们说'earn a living'而不是'win a living'或'gain a living'。动词'earn'是与'a living'搭配的固定搭配词。

Decimos 'earn a living' y no 'win a living' ni 'gain a living'. El verbo 'earn' es el compañero fijo de 'a living' en esta expresión.

「earn a living」と言い、「win a living」や「gain a living」とは言いません。動詞「earn」はこの表現で「a living」と組み合わさる固定の語です。

영어에서는 'earn a living'이라고 하며, 'win a living'이나 'gain a living'이라고 하지 않습니다. 동사 'earn'이 'a living'과 고정적으로 결합하는 표현입니다.

Ejemplos

He earns a living as a carpenter.
他以木匠为生。
Él se gana la vida como carpintero.
彼は大工として生計を立てています。
그는 목수로 생계를 꾸리고 있습니다.
It is hard to earn a living in this city.
在这个城市谋生很难。
Es difícil ganarse la vida en esta ciudad.
この街で生計を立てるのは大変です。
이 도시에서 생계를 꾸리기는 어렵습니다.
She earns a decent living from freelance work.
她靠自由职业维持着不错的生计。
Ella se gana bien la vida como autónoma.
彼女はフリーランスの仕事でしっかり生計を立てています。
그녀는 프리랜서 일로 넉넉하게 생계를 꾸리고 있습니다.

Pronunciación

Guía de uso

Contexto: work, financial, general

Tono: practical

✓ Correcto

She earns a living as a teacher.
她以教师为生。
Ella se gana la vida como profesora.
彼女は教師として生計を立てています。
그녀는 교사로 생계를 꾸리고 있습니다.
How does he earn a living?
他怎么谋生的？
¿Cómo se gana él la vida?
彼はどうやって生計を立てていますか？
그는 어떻게 생계를 꾸리나요?

✗ Incorrecto

She wins a living as a teacher. (use 'earn' not 'win' with a living)
She wins a living as a teacher.（用'earn'而不是'win'来搭配a living）
She wins a living as a teacher. (con a living se usa 'earn', no 'win')
She wins a living as a teacher.（a livingには'win'ではなく'earn'を使います）
She wins a living as a teacher.(a living에는 'win'이 아니라 'earn'을 사용합니다)
She gains a living as a teacher. (use 'earn' not 'gain' with a living)
She gains a living as a teacher.（用'earn'而不是'gain'来搭配a living）
She gains a living as a teacher. (con a living se usa 'earn', no 'gain')
She gains a living as a teacher.（a livingには'gain'ではなく'earn'を使います）
She gains a living as a teacher.(a living에는 'gain'이 아니라 'earn'을 사용합니다)

Origen e historia

Natural English collocation — 'earn' has been the standard verb paired with 'a living' since the 16th century.

Contexto cultural

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal

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