Chinese word

养活

Pronunciation

Pinyinyǎng huó

Meaning

  • verbprovide for

Example

他一个人养活三个孩子很不容易。tā yí gè rén yǎng huó sān gè hái zi hěn bù róng yì

It is not easy for him to provide for three children on his own.

Illustration for 养活 (provide for)

More examples

她靠打工养活家庭。tā kào dǎ gōng yǎng huó jiā tíng

She provides for her family by working part-time.

Core concept

Providing the food and basic living costs that let a person or household get by.

Common phrases

  • 养活家庭yǎng huó jiā tíng

    provide for a family

  • 养活自己yǎng huó zì jǐ

    provide for oneself

  • 养活全家yǎng huó quán jiā

    provide for the whole family

Similar words

养家yǎng jiā: Support a family by earning the income needed for household expenses.
供养gòng yǎng: Supply money or goods to help someone meet everyday living needs.
赡养shàn yǎng: Support an elderly relative financially so daily life can continue.
养育yǎng yù: Raise a child by providing food, care, education, and other needs.

Definition in Chinese

承担生活费用，使某人或某家庭不致于生活困难。chéng dān shēng huó fèi yòng shǐ mǒu rén huò mǒu jiā tíng bú zhì yú shēng huó kùn nán

Word origin

养 (yǎng, "support") + 活 (huó, "live") presents livelihood as something supplied from outside so that another person can continue living.

Usage tips

  • The subject can be an income source as well as a person, so a job or business can be described as sustaining a household.

Other meanings

  • feedverb

Related words

Word lists with this word