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Characters/Character Families/活
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活huó

alive; living; to live (与死相对); lively; vivid; vigorous (生动); movable; flexible (不固定); work (活儿)

活 means alive and lively: 生活 'life', 活动 'an activity', 活力 'energy', and 干活 'to get to work'.

GF0025–2021 character list · 二级
One character pageAll readings and linked senses stay together.

WHOLE GLYPH & STRUCTURE

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ZDIC: 形声，从氵、舌声.

left / right · 活

WHOLE CHARACTER

活huó

alive; living; to live (与死相对); lively; vivid; vigorous (生动); movable; flexible (不固定); work (活儿)

活 means alive and lively: 生活 'life', 活动 'an activity', 活力 'energy', and 干活 'to get to work'.

ZDIC: 形声，从氵、舌声.

MEANING: THE WATER RADICAL — LIFE AND FLOWING MOVEMENT

氵shuǐ

water (as the source idea 水)

A component form of 水; not counted as a standalone character page.

In 活: meaning: the water radical — life and flowing movement Shown with its documented or clearly limited role.

OLD SOUND SIDE: 舌 (SHÉ)

舌shé

tongue

Standalone meaning is kept separate from its role in other characters.

In 活: old sound side: 舌 (shé) Modern huó shares neither the initial (h vs sh) nor the final (-uo vs -e); the old sound side is history, not a learner hint.

huóTone 2
  • alive; living; to live (与死相对)
  • lively; vivid; vigorous (生动)
  • movable; flexible (不固定)
  • work (活儿)
  • 生活shēnghuólife; to live
  • 活动huódòngactivity; event; movable
  • 活力huólìvitality; energy
  • 干活gànhuóto work; to do a job

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