HSK · Level 81
45 words
Chinese word
过日子
Pronunciation
Pinyinguò rì zi
Meaning
- verblive
Example
你打算怎么在这儿过日子？nǐ dǎ suàn zěn me zài zhèr guò rì zi
How do you plan to live here?
More examples
老两口在乡下安静地过日子。láo liáng kǒu zài xiāng xià ān jìng dì guò rì zi
The elderly couple live quietly in the countryside.
Core concept
Keep daily life going over time, with attention to the ordinary way a person manages each day.
Common phrases
艰难地过日子jiān nán dì guò rì zi
live a difficult life
安稳地过日子ān wěn dì guò rì zi
live a peaceful life
慢慢过日子màn màn guò rì zi
live at an easy pace
Similar words
生活shēng huó: Spending everyday life through work, chores, and other regular activities.
过活guò huó: Managing daily life and making ends meet in a casual, practical way.
糊口hú kǒu: Earning enough for food and basic needs to keep a livelihood going.
度日dù rì: Getting through each day with only the bare minimum needed to keep going.
Definition in Chinese
以平常或随意的方式度过日常时间，强调过程和日常的连续性，有时带有将就或凑合的轻微消极意味。yǐ píng cháng huò suí yì de fāng shì dù guò rì cháng shí jiān qiáng diào guò chéng hé rì cháng de lián xù xìng yǒu shí dài yǒu jiāng jiù huò còu hé de qīng wēi xiāo jí yì wèi
Word origin
The verb 过日子 (guòrìzi, "live day to day") joins 过 (guò, "spend or pass") and 日子 (rìzi, "days"), making daily life the object that is carried through time.
Usage tips
- English can make ordinary living sound more neutral than this Chinese verb, which may quietly suggest limited choices or a need to manage with what is available.
Other meanings
- get byverb
- spend one's daysverb
Opposites
- 享福xiǎng fúlive in comfortverb