How common it is
生 appears often in everyday Chinese, so it is worth practicing early and reviewing often.
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Pronunciation focus
Say shēng slowly first, then repeat it in a short phrase. Listen for the tone shape.
Usage note
生表示出生、产生，也可表示生的。
shēng biǎo shì chū shēng 、 chǎn shēng， yě kě biǎo shì shēng de。
Raw can mean born, produce, or uncooked.
Context note
生是常见的多义字，要结合词语理解。
shēng shì cháng jiàn de duō yì zì， yào jié hé cí yǔ lǐ jiě。
Raw is a common multiple-meaning character, so use context.
5 examples
他出生在北京。
tā chū shēng zài běi jīng。
He was born in Beijing.
这里不能吃生的东西。
zhè lǐ bù néng chī shēng de dōng xī。
You cannot eat raw food here.
我对这个词很生。
wǒ duì zhè ge cí hěn shēng。
I am unfamiliar with this word.
生日快乐。
shēng rì kuài lè。
Happy birthday.
老师让我们用生词造句。
lǎo shī ràng wǒ men yòng shēng cí zào jù。
The teacher asked us to make sentences with new words.
5 mini stories
他在这个城市出生。
tā zài zhè ge chéng shì chū shēng。
He was born in this city.
妈妈不让我吃生菜太多。
mā ma bú ràng wǒ chī shēng cài tài duō。
Mom does not let me eat too much raw vegetables.
这个字我还很生。
zhè ge zì wǒ hái hěn shēng。
I am still unfamiliar with this character.
生日那天，大家都很开心。
shēng rì nà tiān， dà jiā dōu hěn kāi xīn。
Everyone was happy on the birthday.
新生要先认识学校。
xīn shēng yào xiān rèn shi xué xiào。
New students need to get to know the school first.