偷生

tōushēng

verb #25,721

Meanings

1 to live without purpose
2 to drag out one's existence
3 to cling to life ignobly

Characters

to steal, to sneak

Examples

HSK 5

在那段艰难的岁月里，他们只是在偷生。

Zài nà duàn jiānnán de suìyuè lǐ, tāmen zhǐshì zài tōushēng.

During those difficult years, they were merely clinging to existence.

HSK 7-9

他宁愿战死，也不愿苟且偷生。

Tā nìngyuàn zhànsǐ, yě bù yuàn gǒuqiě-tōushēng.

He would rather die in battle than drag out a shameful existence.

Tips

usage

偷生 carries a negative connotation - it implies surviving at the cost of one's dignity or principles. It often appears with 苟且 (meaning 'to muddle along') as 苟且偷生.

Stroke Order

偷 tōu

生 shēng