活huóto live
活 (huó) means "to live" and "alive." As a verb it means to live, as in 我爷爷活到了九十岁 (My grandpa lived to ninety). It also describes something that is alive, as in 这条鱼是活的 (This fish is alive) and 那只猫还活着 (That cat is still alive).
What does 活 mean?
- 1.
to liveverb
- 2.
aliveadjective
What does the character 活 mean?
- 活to live
How do you use 活?
See it in 我爷爷活到了九十岁, 这条鱼是活的 and 那只猫还活着.
What are some examples of 活 in a sentence?
How is 活 used in a conversation?
- Speaker A:
这条鱼是活的吗?
Zhè tiáo yú shì huó de ma?
Is this fish alive?
- Speaker B:
是活的。
Shì huó de.
Yes, it's alive.
- Speaker A:
我们今天吃它吧。
Wǒmen jīntiān chī tā ba.
Let's eat it today.
- Speaker B:
好。
Hǎo.
OK.
Can you use 活 correctly?
0 of 3 answeredWhat should you learn next?
- Free HSK 3 level testSee which HSK 3.0 level your vocabulary matches.
- HSK 4 word listEvery word at this level, with examples.
- HSK 3.0 guideHow the nine levels and three bands work.
Related words
- 活动huó dòngto exercise; to move about; to work outHSK 4
- 生活shēng huóto liveHSK 3
- 举jǔto liftHSK 4
- 交jiāoto hand over; to deliver; to pay (money); to turn overHSK 4
- 产生chǎn shēngto arise; to come into being; to come aboutHSK 4
- 付fùto payHSK 4
Browse every entry in the Chinese word dictionary.
English glosses on this page are adapted from CC-CEDICT, published by MDBG (snapshot 2026-10-23), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Glosses were edited for learners.