生きる

• Reading: いきる
• Romaji: ikiru
• Kanji breakdown: 生 (sei/shou/i) — life, living, birth
• Pronunciation: /i.ki.ɾɯ/

Meaning

To live; to be alive. Describes the state of being alive or the act of living one's life.

A Group 2 (ichidan) verb conjugated by dropping る and adding the appropriate ending. A fundamental verb that can express both biological life and the deeper philosophical sense of how one lives. Common in inspirational contexts, literature, and everyday conversation.

Examples

1. 祖母は百歳まで元気に生きました。 My grandmother lived in good health until she was a hundred years old.
2. 毎日を大切に生きたいと思います。 I want to live each day to the fullest.
3. この魚はまだ生きていますよ。 This fish is still alive, you know.

Usage Guide

Context: philosophy, daily life, health

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From Old Japanese. The kanji 生 represents life and growth, depicting a plant sprouting from the earth. One of the most fundamental kanji in Japanese.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal