====== shēngjì: 生计 - Livelihood, Means of Subsistence ====== ===== Quick Summary ===== * **Keywords:** shengji meaning, 生计 in English, Chinese word for livelihood, means of subsistence Chinese, how to say make a living in Chinese, 生计 vs 生活, shengji vs shenghuo, Chinese economics vocabulary, HSK 5 word * **Summary:** Learn the deep meaning of **生计 (shēngjì)**, a fundamental Chinese term for "livelihood" or "means of subsistence." This page breaks down its characters, cultural importance, and practical usage. Discover how **生计** is different from "job" or "life" (生活, shēnghuó) and why it represents the essential, often challenging, reality of putting food on the table in Chinese culture. ===== Core Meaning ===== * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** shēngjì * **Part of Speech:** Noun * **HSK Level:** HSK 5 * **Concise Definition:** A person's means of securing the necessities of life; livelihood. * **In a Nutshell:** **生计 (shēngjì)** isn't just about your "job" or "career." It's the core, often gritty, reality of how you survive. It refers to the fundamental means—be it farming, a small business, or a factory job—that allows you to pay for food, shelter, and basic needs. The word carries a weight of necessity and practicality, focusing on survival rather than passion or personal fulfillment. ===== Character Breakdown ===== * **生 (shēng):** This character means "to live," "to be born," or "life." It represents the very essence of existence. * **计 (jì):** This character means "to plan," "to calculate," or "a strategy." It implies a method or a means to achieve something. When combined, **生计 (shēngjì)** literally translates to the "plan for life" or the "strategy for living." It powerfully captures the idea that survival requires a plan, a method, and a means to support one's existence. ===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== In Chinese culture, securing a stable **生计 (shēngjì)** is traditionally seen as a primary responsibility, not just for oneself but for one's entire family. It reflects a deep-seated pragmatism where the practical needs of the family unit often take precedence over individual aspirations. A useful comparison is to the Western concept of a "career." A "career" in English often implies a path of personal growth, passion, and advancement. You build a career you love. In contrast, a **生计** is something you //have// or //maintain//. You might not love your **生计**, but it is essential for survival, and fulfilling this duty is considered honorable. For centuries, the **生计** of most Chinese people was tied to the land. Therefore, the term is deeply connected to concepts of hard work, resilience, and providing for the next generation. While modern China has diversified economically, this foundational respect for the struggle and importance of securing a livelihood remains a core cultural value. ===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== **生计** is a somewhat formal and serious term. You'll frequently encounter it in news reports, government documents, and discussions about social and economic issues, especially concerning rural populations, migrant workers, or those affected by economic downturns or natural disasters. In conversation, using **生计** instead of the more common [[工作]] (gōngzuò - job) adds a layer of seriousness. It implies that the work being discussed is not just a job, but the fundamental pillar supporting a person's or family's entire existence. * **Connotation:** Neutral to slightly serious or sympathetic. It often appears in contexts of hardship or struggle (e.g., "losing one's livelihood" - 失去生计). * **Formality:** Used in both formal writing and serious conversations. ===== Example Sentences ===== * **Example 1:** * 很多农民依靠种地来维持**生计**。 * Pinyin: Hěn duō nóngmín yīkào zhòng dì lái wéichí **shēngjì**. * English: Many farmers rely on farming to maintain their livelihood. * Analysis: This is a classic example showing **生计** as the fundamental means of survival for a group of people. * **Example 2:** * 疫情期间,不少小商贩的**生计**受到了严重影响。 * Pinyin: Yìqíng qījiān, bù shǎo xiǎo shāngfàn de **shēngjì** shòudào le yánzhòng yǐngxiǎng. * English: During the pandemic, the livelihoods of many small vendors were severely affected. * Analysis: Here, **生计** is used to describe the economic foundation that is being threatened, highlighting the gravity of the situation. * **Example 3:** * 为了**生计**,他不得不离开家乡去大城市打工。 * Pinyin: Wèile **shēngjì**, tā bùdébù líkāi jiāxiāng qù dà chéngshì dǎgōng. * English: For the sake of his livelihood, he had no choice but to leave his hometown to work in the big city. * Analysis: This sentence emphasizes the necessity and pressure associated with **生计**. It's not a choice, but a requirement for survival. * **Example 4:** * 他失去了工作,现在全家的**生计**都成了问题。 * Pinyin: Tā shīqù le gōngzuò, xiànzài quán jiā de **shēngjì** dōu chéng le wèntí. * English: He lost his job, and now the entire family's livelihood has become a problem. * Analysis: This shows how **生计** is often tied to the well-being of a family, not just an individual. * **Example 5:** * 在这个偏远的山区,人们以打猎为**生计**。 * Pinyin: Zài zhège piānyuǎn de shānqū, rénmen yǐ dǎliè wéi **shēngjì**. * English: In this remote mountainous area, people make a living by hunting. * Analysis: The structure "以...为生计" (yǐ...wéi shēngjì) is a common and slightly formal way to say "to make a living by means of...". * **Example 6:** * 政府正在采取措施,帮助失业者解决**生计**困难。 * Pinyin: Zhèngfǔ zhèngzài cǎiqǔ cuòshī, bāngzhù shīyèzhě jiějué **shēngjì** kùnnán. * English: The government is taking measures to help the unemployed solve their livelihood difficulties. * Analysis: This is typical of the formal language used in news or official announcements regarding social welfare. * **Example 7:** * 父亲辛苦了一辈子,就是为了我们一家的**生计**。 * Pinyin: Fùqīn xīnkǔ le yībèizi, jiùshì wèile wǒmen yījiā de **shēngjì**. * English: My father worked hard his whole life just for our family's livelihood. * Analysis: This sentence conveys a sense of respect and gratitude for the sacrifice involved in providing for a family's **生计**. * **Example 8:** * 作为一个作家,写作既是他的爱好,也是他的**生计**。 * Pinyin: Zuòwéi yīgè zuòjiā, xiězuò jìshì tā de àihào, yěshì tā de **shēngjì**. * English: As a writer, writing is both his hobby and his livelihood. * Analysis: This example shows that while **生计** often implies struggle, it can also be something one enjoys, but the term still grounds it in economic reality. * **Example 9:** * 洪水摧毁了庄稼,断了村民们的**生计**。 * Pinyin: Hóngshuǐ cuīhuǐ le zhuāngjia, duàn le cūnmínmen de **shēngjì**. * English: The flood destroyed the crops, cutting off the villagers' livelihood. * Analysis: The verb "断了" (duàn le - cut off) is often paired with **生计** to vividly describe a sudden loss of one's means of survival. * **Example 10:** * 他每个月只有一点固定收入,**生计**十分艰难。 * Pinyin: Tā měi ge yuè zhǐyǒu yīdiǎn gùdìng shōurù, **shēngjì** shífēn jiānnán. * English: He only has a small fixed income each month; making a living is extremely difficult. * Analysis: This highlights the connection between income (收入) and the quality or difficulty of one's **生计**. ===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== The most common mistake for learners is confusing **生计 (shēngjì)** with **生活 (shēnghuó)**. They are related but distinct. * **生计 (shēngjì) - Livelihood:** This is the //means// of living. It's your job, your farm, your craft—the economic activity that supports you. It answers the question, "How do you survive?" * **生活 (shēnghuó) - Life / Lifestyle:** This is the //experience// of living. It's your quality of life, your daily activities, your happiness, and your overall circumstances. It answers the question, "How is your life?" Think of it this way: You work hard at your **生计** in order to have a good **生活**. **Incorrect Usage:** * **Wrong:** 我在北京的**生计**很愉快。(Wǒ zài Běijīng de shēngjì hěn yúkuài.) -> "My livelihood in Beijing is very pleasant." * **Why it's wrong:** **生计** is the means, not the experience. You don't describe a means of survival as "pleasant." You describe the resulting life as pleasant. * **Correct:** 我在北京的**生活**很愉快。(Wǒ zài Běijīng de shēnghuó hěn yúkuài.) -> "My life in Beijing is very pleasant." **Correct Usage:** * **Correct:** 他在北京找到了一个稳定的**生计**。(Tā zài Běijīng zhǎodào le yīgè wěndìng de shēngjì.) -> "He found a stable livelihood in Beijing." * **Analysis:** Here, you are talking about the means of support (the job), which can be described as "stable." ===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== * [[生活]] (shēnghuó) - Life, lifestyle. The broader experience of living, which your `生计` supports. * [[工作]] (gōngzuò) - Job, work. The most common and neutral term for what you do to earn money. Your `工作` is usually your `生计`. * [[职业]] (zhíyè) - Profession, occupation. A more formal term that implies a career path with specialized skills. * [[饭碗]] (fànwǎn) - Literally "rice bowl." A very common and vivid metaphor for one's job or source of income (e.g., "losing your job" is 丢了饭碗 - diūle fànwǎn). * [[谋生]] (móushēng) - (Verb) To make a living, to seek a livelihood. It's the action of trying to secure a `生计`. * [[糊口]] (húkǒu) - (Verb) Literally "to paste the mouth." A more colloquial term meaning to scrape by or eke out a meager living. * [[收入]] (shōurù) - Income. The money you get from your `生计`. * [[生存]] (shēngcún) - To survive; survival. This is the ultimate goal of having a `生计`. * [[养家]] (yǎngjiā) - (Verb) To support a family. Often the primary motivation for maintaining a stable `生计`.