牺牲

犧牲

xīshēng

verb HSK 6 #1,827

Meanings

1 to sacrifice; to give up
2 to die for a cause; to lay down one's life

Characters

sacrifice; sacrificial animal

domestic animal; livestock

Both characters originally meant sacrificial animals offered to the gods — now meaning to give up something precious.

Examples

他为了家庭牺牲了自己的事业。

Tā wèile jiātíng xīshēng le zìjǐ de shìyè.

He sacrificed his career for his family.

很多战士英勇牺牲了。

Hěnduō zhànshì yīngyǒng xīshēng le.

Many soldiers heroically gave their lives.

父母为孩子做出了很大的牺牲。

Fùmǔ wèi háizi zuòchū le hěn dà de xīshēng.

Parents make great sacrifices for their children.

不要牺牲健康来赚钱。

Bùyào xīshēng jiànkāng lái zhuànqián.

Don't sacrifice your health to make money.

Tips

culture

Both 牺 and 牲 have the 牛 (ox) radical, because in ancient China, oxen, sheep, and pigs were the three main sacrificial animals (三牲). The word evolved from ritual sacrifice to the broader meaning of giving up something valuable.

Stroke Order

牺 xī

牲 shēng