Translation and Meaning of: 生きる - ikiru

If you're studying Japanese, you have certainly come across the verb 生きる (いきる), which means "to live" or "to exist". But do you deeply know the origin of this word, how it is used in daily life, or even how to memorize it efficiently? In this article, we will explore the etymology, the pictogram, and the meaning of いきる, as well as practical tips to fix it in your mind. Here at Suki Nihongo, you can also find examples of ready-made sentences to study in Anki or another spaced repetition system, making your learning more dynamic.

Many people search on Google not only for the translation of 生きる, but also how to differentiate it from other related terms about life, such as 生活する (せいかつする) or 命 (いのち). Furthermore, there are those who want to understand why this verb appears so often in songs, poems, and even tattoos. Let's unravel all of this below!

Etymology and origin of the kanji 生きる

The kanji 生, which makes up the word 生きる, has a fascinating history. It derives from an ancient pictogram that represented a plant sprouting from the earth, symbolizing life and growth. If you look closely, you can still see this image in the modern stroke of the character. The radical 生 appears in various other words related to existence, such as 生命 (せいめい) (life, existence) and 生まれる (うまれる) (to be born).

The suffix きる (kiru) is a verbal form that indicates continuous action or completion, depending on the context. When combined with 生, it reinforces the idea of "being alive" or "staying alive". Interestingly, this same suffix appears in verbs like 歩きる (あるきる), which means "to walk continuously", showing how the Japanese language uses patterns to construct meanings.

Everyday use and popular expressions

In daily life, the Japanese use 生きる in ways that go beyond the literal meaning of "to exist." For example, the phrase 自分のために生きる (じぶんのためにいきる) means "to live for oneself," carrying a connotation of authenticity and purpose. In more dramatic contexts, such as in films or dramas, it is common to hear 生きてくれ！(いきてくれ！), which would be something like "Please, stay alive!" — an emotional plea in dangerous situations.

Another interesting use is in the expression 生き甲斐 (いきがい), which means "reason for living" or "purpose in life." This word is often associated with the Japanese philosophy of finding meaning in work, hobbies, or relationships. If you have ever watched any anime or read manga such as "Vagabond" or "Vinland Saga," you have probably noticed how this concept is deeply explored in the stories.

Tips for memorization and curiosities

An effective way to memorize 生きる is to associate it with vivid images. Think of the kanji 生 as a plant growing under the sun, while the sound いき reminds you of breathing (息, いき). This visual and phonetic connection helps to solidify the word in the brain. Another tip is to create flashcards with phrases like 今日を生きる (きょうをいきる) — "live the today" — which bring an emotional context to the learning.

Did you know that 生きる also appears in puns and word games? In some regional dialects, especially in Osaka, you might hear jokes like いきいきしてる？ (いきいきしてる？), which playfully uses the repetition of the verb to ask if someone is "full of life." These nuances show how the Japanese language is rich in colloquial expressions that go far beyond dictionaries.

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Synonyms and similar words

• 生存する (seizon suru) - Survive, exist in the form of life.
• 在る (aru) - To be, to exist in a more general way, without implication of life.
• 存在する (sonzai suru) - To exist, to have presence, can be in a tangible or intangible way.
• 生き残る (ikinokoru) - Surviving, especially in adverse conditions.
• 生命を保つ (seimei o tamotsu) - Maintain life, preserve living existence.
• 生命を維持する (seimei o iji suru) - To maintain, sustain life, focusing on biological continuity.
• 生き続ける (iki tsuzukeru) - Continue living, persist in life.
• 存続する (sonzoku suru) - Persist, continue to exist over time.
• 存在し続ける (sonzai shi tsuzukeru) - Continue to exist, focusing on the notion of permanence.
• 存在を続ける (sonzai o tsuzukeru) - Persist in existence, similar to existing continuously.

生きる

Romaji: ikiru
Kana: いきる
Type: noun
L: jlpt-n4

Translation / Meaning: to live; exist

Meaning in English: to live;to exist

Definition: Exist with life.

Example Sentences - (生きる) ikiru

See below some example sentences:

食べることは生きることだ。

Taberu koto wa ikiru koto da

Eating is living.

Eating is living.

• 食べる - eat
• こと - thing
• は - Topic particle
• 生きる - live
• こと - thing
• だ - Verb "to be"

食物は私たちの生きるために必要なものです。

Shokumotsu wa watashitachi no ikiru tame ni hitsuyōna mono desu

Food is necessary for our survival.

Food is necessary to live.

• 食物 (shokumotsu) - food
• は (wa) - Topic particle
• 私たちの (watashitachi no) - our
• 生きる (ikiru) - live
• ために (tameni) - for
• 必要な (hitsuyou na) - necessary
• もの (mono) - thing
• です (desu) - Verb to be/estar

遊牧民は自然と共に生きる。

Yūbokumin wa shizen to tomo ni ikiru

Nomads live with nature.

• 遊牧民 - nomadic people
• は - Topic particle
• 自然 - Nature
• と - connecting particle
• 共に - Together
• 生きる - Live

野生の動物は自由に生きることができる。

Yasei no doubutsu wa jiyuu ni ikiru koto ga dekiru

Wild animals can live freely.

Wild animals can live freely.

• 野生の動物 - Wild animals
• は - Topic particle
• 自由に - Freely
• 生きる - Live
• ことができる - To be able to

自然に生きることが大切です。

Shizen ni ikiru koto ga taisetsu desu

It is important to live naturally.

It is important to live naturally.

• 自然に - means "naturally".
• 生きる - means "to live".
• ことが - is a particle that indicates that what follows is a noun or noun phrase.
• 大切 - means "important".
• です - is a particle that indicates that the sentence is in the present tense and is affirmative.

歌を歌うことは私の生きる喜びです。

Uta wo utau koto wa watashi no ikiru yorokobi desu

Singing is the joy of my life.

Singing a song is my joy in life.

• 歌を歌うこと (uta wo utau koto) - sing a song
• は (wa) - Topic particle
• 私の (watashi no) - my
• 生きる (ikiru) - live
• 喜び (yorokobi) - joy
• です (desu) - Verb to be/estar

死ぬことは恐ろしいことではありません。生きることが恐ろしいことです。

Shinu koto wa osoroshii koto de wa arimasen. Ikiru koto ga osoroshii koto desu

Death is not a scary thing. Living is the scary thing.

Dying is not terrible. It's scary to live.

• 死ぬことは恐ろしいことではありません。- "Dying is not a scary thing."
• 生きることが恐ろしいことです。- "To live is the scary thing."

情熱的な愛を持って生きる。

Jounetsuteki na ai wo motte ikiru

Viva com amor apaixonado.

Live with passionate love.

• 情熱的な - passionate, burning
• 愛 - love
• を - direct object particle
• 持って - Land, possess
• 生きる - live

動物は私たちと共に生きる大切な存在です。

Doubutsu wa watashitachi to tomo ni ikiru taisetsuna sonzai desu

The animals are important beings that live with us.

Animals are important beings who live with us.

• 動物 (doubutsu) - Animal
• は (wa) - marcador de tópico
• 私たち (watashitachi) - we/us
• と (to) - with
• 共に (tomonini) - juntos
• 生きる (ikiru) - "Viver"
• 大切な (taisetsuna) - importante
• 存在 (sonzai) - existência
• です (desu) - copula (to be)

厳しい世界で生きる。

Kibishii sekai de ikiru

Living in a harsh world.

Live in a harsh world.

• 厳しい - means "rigorous" or "severe"
• 世界 - It means "world".
• で - it is a particle that indicates the place or situation in which something happens
• 生きる - means "to live"