HSK · Level 100
45 words
Chinese word
衣食住行
Pronunciation
Pinyinyī shí zhù xíng
Meaning
- idiombasic necessities of life
Example
政府要重视民众的衣食住行问题。zhèng fǔ yào zhòng shì mín zhòng de yī shí zhù xíng wèn tí
The government should pay attention to people's problems with food, clothing, housing, and transportation.
More examples
城市化进程中，保障低收入群体的衣食住行是重要任务。chéng shì huà jìn chéng zhōng bǎo zhàng dī shōu rù qún tǐ de yī shí zhù xíng shì zhòng yào rèn wù
Ensuring low-income groups have their basic necessities of life is an important task during urbanization.
Core concept
A practical map of the conditions that allow ordinary life to function, organized around four essential areas.
Common phrases
解决衣食住行问题jiě jué yī shí zhù xíng wèn tí
address problems with basic necessities of life
基本的衣食住行需求jī běn de yī shí zhù xíng xū qiú
basic needs for daily life
提高衣食住行水平tí gāo yī shí zhù xíng shuǐ píng
raise basic living standards
Similar words
吃穿住行chī chuān zhù xíng: Describes the practical essentials of dressing, eating, finding shelter, and moving around each day.
柴米油盐chái mǐ yóu yán: Refers to common household necessities such as staple food, fuel, cooking oil, and salt.
衣食无忧yī shí wú yōu: Describes a comfortable condition in which clothing and food cause no worry.
安居乐业ān jū lè yè: Describes living safely and peacefully at home while pursuing steady work.
Definition in Chinese
指代人们生活中最根本的四类需求：穿衣、吃饭、住处与出行，常用于讨论生活水平与社会保障等话题。zhǐ dài rén men shēng huó zhōng zuì gēn běn de sì lèi xū qiú chuān yī chī fàn zhù chù yǔ chū xíng cháng yòng yú tǎo lùn shēng huó shuǐ píng yǔ shè huì bǎo zhàng děng huà tí
Word origin
衣食住行 (yīshízhùxíng, "clothing, food, housing, and movement") developed by joining four basic life-related words into one balanced four-character idiom.
Usage tips
- In conversation, this phrase is useful when several practical aspects of life are discussed together rather than one at a time, especially in questions about public services or living conditions.