性命
Old HSK 6
性命 (xìngmìng) · life (of a person or animal)
性命 (xìngmìng) means “life (of a person or animal)”. It is written with 2 characters: 性 (-ness (suffix for quality)) + 命 (life). It is an old HSK 6 word (HSK 2.0).
How 性命 is built
The characters
性 xìng · -ness (suffix for quality)
What 性 is made of
- 忄xīn — heart
- 八bā — eight
- 丨 — vertical stroke
- 生shēng — life
- 一 — horizontal stroke
- 土tǔ — earth
- 十 — ten
- 一 — horizontal stroke
Origin hint: 忄 gives the meaning, 生 gives the sound. (from the Make Me a Hanzi dataset; treat as a memory aid where history is uncertain)
命 mìng · life
What 命 is made of
- 令lìng — command
- 人rén — person
- 口kǒu — mouth
- 冂 — frame
- 丨 — vertical stroke
- 一 — horizontal stroke
- 冂 — frame
Origin hint: An order 令 given by mouth 口 (from the Make Me a Hanzi dataset; treat as a memory aid where history is uncertain)
Example sentences
医生救了他的性命。Yīshēng jiù le tā de xìngmìng.The doctor saved his life.
安全第一，性命最重要。Ānquán dìyī, xìngmìng zuì zhòngyào.Safety first; life matters most.
Questions about 性命
What does 性命 mean?
性命 (xìngmìng) means “life (of a person or animal)”.
How do you pronounce 性命?
性命 is pronounced xìngmìng.
Which HSK level is 性命?
性命 is in Old HSK 6.
Related words
- 个性gèxìngpersonality
- 性别xìngbiégender
- 性格xìnggépersonality
- 性质xìngzhìnature
- 记性jìxingmemory (ability to remember)
- 慢性mànxìngchronic
- 人性rénxìnghuman nature
- 任性rènxìngwilful
- 索性suǒxìngmight as well
- 弹性tánxìngelasticity
Learn 性命 with its group
It is part of Old HSK 6 · Group 203: a short group with quick checks and spaced repeats.