Ways to say it
| Korean | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 생명 | saengmyeong | [sʰɛŋmjʌ̹ŋ] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) [sʰe̞ŋmjʌ̹ŋ] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 삶 | sam | [sʰa̠(ː)m] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
| 생활 | saenghwal | [sʰɛŋβwa̠ɭ] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) [sʰe̞ŋβwa̠ɭ] (SK Standard, Seoul, narrow) |
Korean uses different words for 'life' depending on whether you are discussing biological existence, a person's experience or daily routines. 생명 is used to discuss the concept of life itself, particularly in a biological or scientific sense, such as a life force. 삶 is a more abstract or philosophical term used to describe the experience of living or the course of a person's life. Finally, 생활 refers to the practical aspects of life, such as daily routines, activities or a specific lifestyle like 'student life'.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 생명 is composed of characters meaning 'living' (생) and 'life/existence' (명).
Which one should you use?
The forms differ based on the nuance of the word 'life'. Use 생명 for biological life or a life force. Use 삶 when referring to one's personal experience or the way of living in a poetic or philosophical context. Use 생활 when discussing daily life, routines or a specific lifestyle.
How do you pronounce it?
saengmyeong
Did you know?
- The word for 'life', 삶, is a direct linguistic relative of the word for 'person', 사람. Both stem from the same ancestral root related to the act of living.
- The word 생명 is a Sino-Korean term, meaning its components are rooted in Chinese characters. This gives it a more formal and scientific tone compared to the native Korean word 삶.
- The word 삶 is created by taking the verb stem of 'to live' 살다 and adding the suffix -ㅁ to transform the action into a noun.
Examples in context
- 삶보다 귀중한 것은 없다.There's nothing more precious than life.This sentence uses 삶 to express the value of life.Tatoeba #13118801 by romzzo, translation #10576243 by CK
- 힘든 삶이었던 것이 틀림없다.It had surely been a hard life.This sentence uses 삶 to describe a difficult period of living.Tatoeba #12964984 by Uwe, translation #13117326 by moodz
- 새미의 삶은 하룻밤 사이에 바뀌었다.Sami's life changed overnight.This sentence uses 삶 to discuss how a person's experience changed.Tatoeba #6464942 by dalgarak, translation #6464894 by OsoHombre
- 이 행성에서 생명을 찾는 노력은 계속되고 있어요.Efforts to find life on this planet are ongoing.
- 인생은 참으로 짧은 것 같아, 그래서 삶을 즐겨야 해요.Life seems truly short, so we should enjoy it.
- 10 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Dohyun and Minji are looking at a small plant together.
- 도현 Do-hyeon이 작은 식물도 생명이 있어요.i jageun singmuldo saengmyeong-i isseoyo.Even this small plant has life.
- 민지 Min-ji정말 신기하고 소중하네요.jeongmal singihago sojunghaneyo.It's truly amazing and precious.
- 도현 Do-hyeon모든 생명은 보호받아야 해요.modeun saengmyeong-eun boho-badaya haeyo.All life must be protected.
- 민지 Min-ji도현 씨 말이 맞아요.Dohyun ssi mari majayo.You are right, Dohyun.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “life” translations and entries 생명, 삶, 생활, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 삶, 생명, 생활, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
