What does 生 mean in Chinese?

生 (shēng) means "to be born; to give birth; life; to grow; raw; uncooked; student" in Chinese. The new HSK exam tests it at HSK 4.

How do you pronounce 生?

生 is pronounced "shēng" in Mandarin Chinese. The tone number is 1.

What HSK level is 生?

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

What words contain the character 生?

Common words with 生 include 中学生 (middle-school student), 一生 (all one's life), 互生 (alternate phyllotaxy (leaf pattern)), 一年生 (annual (botany)), 中生代 (Mesozoic (geological era 250-65m years ago, covering Triassic 三疊紀|三叠纪, Jurassic 侏羅紀|侏罗纪 and Cretaceous 白堊紀|白垩纪)).

How do you write 生?

生 has 5 strokes. Its radical is 生. You can view the stroke order animation on our stroke order tool.

生 (shēng), to be born

生

shēng

to be born; to give birth; life; to grow

HSK 4 New to HSKverb5 strokes

Character Breakdown

A sprout rising from the earth — life

Radical: 生 (no. 100)Strokes: 5

View stroke order →

Definitions

(verb) to be born
to give birth
life
to grow
raw
uncooked
student

Example Sentences

我的弟弟去年出生了。

Wǒ de dìdi qùnián chūshēng le

My younger brother was born last year

Words Containing 生

Word	Pinyin	Meaning	HSK
中学生	zhōng xué shēng	middle-school student	HSK 1
一生	yī shēng	all one's life	HSK 4
互生	hù shēng	alternate phyllotaxy (leaf pattern)
一年生	yī nián shēng	annual (botany)
中生代

Related Words

下世(xià shì)· to die

→

生人(shēng rén)· stranger

→

生老病死(shēng lǎo bìng sǐ)· lit. to be born, to grow old, to get sick and to die

→

降生(jiàng shēng)· to be born

→

Grammar Notes

Questions with 吗HSK 1

Statement + 吗？

Possessive 的HSK 1

Possessor + 的 + Noun

Number + Measure Word + NounHSK 1

Number + Measure Word + Noun

Because/So (因为...所以)HSK 2

因为 + Reason, 所以 + Result

More and More (越来越)HSK 2

Subject + 越来越 + Adjective/Verb + 了

Appears in these articles

HSK levels

New HSK exam: HSK 4
HSK 2.0: Not listed
HSK Lord study list: HSK 2 list

生: 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 生 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.