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This hanja is read as “생” in Korean.
It originally depicted a young sprout popping up from the ground. In Korean, its meaning corresponds to the verb “나다”, which means “to be born” or “to emerge.” That’s why it carries meanings like “birth,” “production,” “freshness,” or being “alive.”
Let’s look at some common words using “생.”
- 생일 (生日) – birthday
- 인생 (人生) – (human’s) life
- 평생 (平生) – lifetime
- 생명 (生命) – life (living force)
- 생활 (生活) – daily life, living
- 생선 (生鮮) – fish
- 생수 (生水) – mineral water (literally “fresh water”)
- 선생님 (先生-) – teacher (literally “one born earlier”)
- 학생 (學生) – student
- 생물 (生物) – living thing, creature
- 야생 (野生) – wild, wildlife
- 동생 (同生) – younger sibling
- 생강 (生薑) – ginger
- 생산 (生產) – production
- 고생 (苦生) – hardship, suffering
- 재생 (再生) – regeneration
- 발생 (發生) – occurrence, breakout
- 위생 (衞生) – hygiene, sanitation
- 생사 (生死) – life and death
From your birthday to the teacher who guides you. 생 is everywhere in Korean!
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