字 字源HanziOrigin
中文EnglishFrançaisEspañolالعربيةРусский
生
shēng
life, grow
At a glance · 生

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Evolution of the glyph

Five stages, from a sketch of the real object to regular script — tap a stage, drag the timeline, or play the animation.

生 Evolution of the glyph
  1. 生 Object sketch
    Object sketchBefore writing · drawing what was seen
  2. 生 Oracle bone
    Oracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCE
  3. 生 Seal script
    Seal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCE
  4. 生 Clerical script
    Clerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CE
  5. 生 Regular script
    Regular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE
Object sketchBefore writing · drawing what was seenOracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCESeal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCEClerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CERegular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE

生字甲骨文象草木自地生出之形，下为土，上象萌芽；金文、小篆承之。

What the sketch shows

生 Object sketch

Origins & notes

生本义为生长、出生，引申为生命、活着。

Structure

生为象形字，描摹草木破土而出，表示滋生生长。

At a glance

Pinyinshēng
Radical生
Strokes5
UnicodeU+751F
Character type象形
Theme自然

Six languages, one character

Each page offers hreflang versions; switching language keeps the glyphs and meanings aligned.

English life, grow Sheng is a pictograph of plants sprouting from the earth, meaning to grow and life.
Français vie, croître Sheng est un pictogramme de plantes sortant de terre, signifiant croître et la vie.
Español vida, crecer Sheng es un pictograma de plantas brotando de la tierra, significa crecer y vida.
العربية حياة، ينمو شينغ رسم تخطيطي لنباتات تنبت من الأرض، ويعني النمو والحياة.
Русский жизнь, расти Шэн — пиктограмма растений, пробивающихся из земли, означает расти и жизнь.

Common words

  • 生活shēng huólife
  • 生命shēng mìnglife

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