What does 活 mean in Chinese?

活 (huó) means "to live; alive; living; work; workmanship" in Chinese. The new HSK exam tests it at HSK 4.

How do you pronounce 活?

活 is pronounced "huó" in Mandarin Chinese. The tone number is 2.

What HSK level is 活?

活 is an HSK 4 word on the new HSK exam syllabus.

What words contain the character 活?

Common words with 活 include 做活 (to work for a living (esp. of woman needleworker)), 全活 (to save life), 出活 (to finish a job on time), 包活 (job paid according to the amount of work done), 口活 (oral sex).

How do you write 活?

You can practice writing 活 using our stroke order tool.

活 (huó), to live

活

huó

to live; alive; living; work

HSK 4 New to HSKverb

Character Breakdown

Radical: 水 (no. 85)

View stroke order →

Definitions

(verb) to live
alive
living
work
workmanship

Example Sentences

生活很好。

Shēnghuó hěn hǎo

Life is good

Words Containing 活

Word	Pinyin	Meaning
做活	zuò huó	to work for a living (esp. of woman needleworker)
全活	quán huó	to save life
出活	chū huó	to finish a job on time
包活	bāo huó	job paid according to the amount of work done
口活	kǒu huó	oral sex

→

居家(jū jiā)· to live at home

→

月光隐遁(yuè guāng yǐn dùn)· to live in hiding

→

活生生(huó shēng shēng)· real (people)

→

Grammar Notes

More and More (越来越)HSK 2

Subject + 越来越 + Adjective/Verb + 了

Compared With (相比)HSK 4

跟/和/与 + A + 相比, B + Comment

HSK levels

New HSK exam: HSK 4
HSK 2.0: Not listed
HSK Lord study list: HSK 3 list

活: New to the HSK lists at HSK 4. See where your old level lands

New exam levels follow the CLEC syllabus released 15 November 2025. The first official sitting is announced for 13 December 2026. HSK 7-9 is one advanced band.

On the new HSK 4 exam

Studying for HSK 4? Keep 活 with the rest of your level.

HSK Lord schedules your reviews so each character comes back right before you would forget it. Free to start, and it picks up where you are.

Start studying free The words new HSK 4 adds

Frequently Asked Questions

Reviewed by RJ Murray, Founder, HSK Lord.

活