Chinese word

生命线

Pronunciation

Pinyinshēng mìng xiàn

Meaning

  • nounlifeline

Example

这条河是我们村的生命线。zhè tiáo hé shì wǒ men cūn de shēng mìng xiàn

This river is our village's lifeline.

Illustration for 生命线 (lifeline)

More examples

暴雨冲毁道路，影响了农村的粮食生命线。bào yǔ chōng huǐ dào lù yíng xiǎng le nóng cūn de liáng shí shēng mìng xiàn

Torrential rain destroyed the roads, affecting the rural food lifeline.

Core concept

A vital connection whose loss threatens basic survival or daily life.

Common phrases

  • 供水生命线gōng shuǐ shēng mìng xiàn

    water-supply lifeline

  • 粮食生命线liáng shí shēng mìng xiàn

    food lifeline

  • 医疗生命线yī liáo shēng mìng xiàn

    medical lifeline

Similar words

命脉mìng mài: A crucial source or central support on which a country or region depends for survival.
支柱zhī zhù: A main source of support that keeps an organization or group stable.
生计shēng jì: The income or practical means used to meet daily living needs.

Definition in Chinese

对某一地区、群体或个人来说，维持生命或基本生活所依赖的重要通道、供给来源或关键依靠。duì mǒu yí dì qū qún tǐ huò gè rén lái shuō wéi chí shēng mìng huò jī běn shēng huó suǒ yī lài de zhòng yào tōng dào gōng jǐ lái yuán huò guān jiàn yī kào

Word origin

生 (shēng, "to live") + 命 (mìng, "life") combine to express life, while 线 (xiàn, "line") extends from a physical line to a route or connection, so the compound names a vital means of support.

Usage tips

  • The word fits both ordinary local needs and wider public matters, so news and conversation can use it for infrastructure as well as personal support.

Other meanings

  • safety linenoun
  • only hopenoun

Related words

  • 生命体征shēng mìng tǐ zhēngvital signsnoun

Word lists with this word