Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 生きる | ikiru | [ikʲiɾɯ̟] (narrow) |
| 暮らす | kurasu | [kɯ̟ɾa̠sɨ] (narrow) |
Japanese uses different words for 'live' based on whether you mean the biological state of being alive, the way you spend your daily life or where you reside. If you are referring to a live musical performance or a live broadcast, the loanword ライブ is used.
Which one should you use?
There is a distinction between the biological act of living and the lifestyle one leads. 生きる describes the state of being alive or the biological act of existing as a living being. In contrast, 暮らす is used to describe how one spends their time or the way one manages their daily life, such as living in a certain city or maintaining a certain lifestyle. To describe the act of residing at a specific address or location, the verb 住む is used.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The word 住んでる is a contracted form of 住んでいます.
How do you pronounce it?
ikiru
Did you know?
- Japanese has a specific word 生きがい which translates to 'a reason for living' or 'something that makes life worth living'.
- The verb 暮らす shares its root with the word for 'evening' 暮れ. It originally referred to the passing of a day and the coming of darkness.
- While 生きる means 'to live', the word 生き生き is an onomatopoeia used to describe someone who looks 'lively' or 'full of vitality'.
Examples in context
- 私には生きる価値がない。I don't deserve to live.This sentence expresses a sense of worth regarding the form 生きる.Tatoeba #2296112 by tommy_san, translation #2275976 by CK
- ９０歳まで生きる人は少ない。Few people live to be ninety years old.This sentence uses the form 生きる to discuss longevity.Tatoeba #234926 by e4zh1nmcz, translation #72303 by CK
- 牧場で暮らす動物は家畜です。The animals which live on farms are domesticated.This sentence uses the form 暮らす to describe the lifestyle of animals.Tatoeba #682633 by arihato, translation #684682 by notrwanda
- 私は東京に住んでいます。I live in Tokyo.
- お住まいになる場所はどちらですか？Where do you live?
- 45 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Yui and Ren are talking about a documentary about nature.
- 結衣 Yui厳しい環境で生きる動物たちはすごいです。Kibishii kankyō de ikiru dōbututachi wa sugoi desu.Animals that live in harsh environments are amazing.
- 蓮 Ren本当にそうですね。毎日が戦いだと思われます。Hontō ni sō desu ne. Mainichi ga tatakai da to omowaremasu.That's very true. I imagine every day is a struggle.
- 結衣 Yuiただ生きるためだけに必死なのですね。Tada ikiru tame dake ni hisshi na no desu ne.They are desperate just to stay alive, aren't they?
- 蓮 Ren自然の厳しさを感じます。Shizen no kibishisa o kanjimasu.It makes me feel the severity of nature.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “live” translations and entries 生きる, 暮らす, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
