Translation and Meaning of: 生活 - seikatsu

The Japanese word 生活[せいかつ] is one of those that frequently appears in everyday life in Japan, whether in conversations, texts, or even in animes and dramas. If you are studying Japanese, understanding its meaning, use, and cultural context can be essential for communicating more naturally. In this article, we will explore what this word represents, how it is used in daily life, and some curiosities that can aid in memorization.

生活[せいかつ] is a term that goes far beyond a simple translation. It carries cultural and social nuances that reflect important aspects of life in Japan. Whether for those who want to travel, live in the country, or simply immerse themselves in the language, understanding this word in depth is a valuable step.

Meaning and usage of 生活[せいかつ]

生活[せいかつ] can be translated as "life" or "existence," but its meaning goes a bit beyond that. It refers to the everyday, lifestyle, and daily activities that make up a person's routine. While other words like 人生[じんせい] (life in the sense of a journey) have a broader meaning, 生活 is more connected to day-to-day life.

A practical example is the expression 日常生活[にちじょうせいかつ], which means "daily life." This word appears in contexts such as work, studies, habits, and even in discussions about quality of life. If someone says "日本の生活に慣れました" (I got used to life in Japan), they are talking precisely about their adaptation to the local lifestyle.

Origin and composition of kanjis

生活 is composed of two kanjis: 生 (life, to be born) and 活 (active, vigorous). Together, they form the concept of "active life" or "existence in motion." The first kanji, 生, is one of the most fundamental in the Japanese language, appearing in words like 学生[がくせい] (student) and 誕生日[たんじょうび] (birthday). Meanwhile, 活 is less common on its own, but appears in terms like 活動[かつどう] (activity) and 活躍[かつやく] (active performance).

According to the etymological dictionary 漢字源, the combination of these characters dates back to classical Chinese, where it already carried a sense of "maintenance of life." Over time, the term was incorporated into Japanese with a meaning closer to what we know today, related to daily routine and sustenance.

Life [せいかつ] in Japanese culture

In Japan, the word 生活 is deeply connected with values such as discipline, organization, and balance. Discussions about 生活リズム (rhythm of life) or 生活習慣 (daily habits) are common, especially in health and wellness contexts. Many TV programs and articles address how to improve 生活の質 (quality of life), highlighting the importance of this concept in society.

An interesting fact is that during the Edo period, the term was often associated with family sustenance and daily work. Today, it retains that connection but has gained additional layers, such as in the modern use of デジタル生活 (digital life) or シンプル生活 (simple life). These variations show how the word adapts to new times without losing its core meaning.

Tips for memorizing and using 生活[せいかつ]

An effective way to memorize this word is to associate it with concrete situations from day to day. For example, think of phrases like "My life in Japan" (日本の生活) or "Change my lifestyle" (生活を変える). This type of contextualization helps to remember not only the term but also its real applications.

Another tip is to pay attention to common compounds, such as 生活費[せいかつひ] (living expenses) and 社会生活[しゃかいせいかつ] (social life). These combinations appear frequently in news and conversations, so recognizing them can be very useful for those looking to expand their vocabulary naturally.

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Synonyms and similar words

• 暮らし (kurashi) - Way of living; lifestyle.
• 生計 (seikei) - Means of livelihood; sustenance.
• 日常生活 (nichijō seikatsu) - Daily life; daily activities.
• 生存 (seizon) - Survival; existence.
• 生涯 (shōgai) - Whole life; all life.
• 生きる (ikiru) - Live; exist.

生活

Romaji: seikatsu
Kana: せいかつ
Type: noun
L: jlpt-n4

Translation / Meaning: life; life (one's daily existence); subsistence

Meaning in English: living;life (one's daily existence);livelihood

Definition: daily life and way of life.

Example Sentences - (生活) seikatsu

See below some example sentences:

レジャーは私たちの生活に必要なリフレッシュの時間です。

Rejā wa watashitachi no seikatsu ni hitsuyōna rifureshu no jikan desu

Leisure is a refreshing time necessary for our lives.

• レジャー - lazer
• は - Topic particle
• 私たち - we
• の - Possession particle
• 生活 - life
• に - Location particle
• 必要 - necessary
• な - adjective particle
• リフレッシュ - refreshment
• の - Possession particle
• 時間 - time
• です - to be (state verb)

不規則な生活は健康に悪影響を与える。

Fukisoku na seikatsu wa kenkou ni aku eikyou wo ataeru

An irregular lifestyle negatively affects health.

An irregular life has a negative effect on health.

• 不規則な - irregular
• 生活 - lifestyle
• は - partícula que indica o tópico da frase
• 健康に - para saúde
• 悪影響を - negative impact
• 与える - dar

快適な生活を送りたいです。

Kaiteki na seikatsu wo okuritai desu

I want to live a comfortable life.

• 快適な - Comfortable, pleasant
• 生活 - life, lifestyle
• を - direct object particle
• 送りたい - to want to send, to wish
• です - verb ser/estar in the present, polite form

技術は人々の生活をより良くするために役立ちます。

Gijutsu wa hitobito no seikatsu wo yori yoku suru tame ni yakudachi masu

Technology helps improve people's lives.

Technology helps improve people's lives.

• 技術 - technology
• は - Topic particle
• 人々 - people
• の - Possessive particle
• 生活 - life
• を - direct object particle
• より良く - better
• する - make
• ために - for
• 役立ちます - To be useful

穀物は私たちの食生活に欠かせないものです。

Kokumotsu wa watashitachi no shokuseikatsu ni kakasenai mono desu

Grains are essential for our diet.

Grains are indispensable for our diet.

• 穀物 (koku-motsu) - Grains
• は (wa) - Topic particle
• 私たちの (watashi-tachi no) - our
• 食生活 (shoku-seikatsu) - Dietary food
• に (ni) - Destination particle
• 欠かせない (kakasenai) - INDISPENSABLE
• もの (mono) - Thing
• です (desu) - Verb to be/estar

繊維は私たちの生活に欠かせないものです。

Senshi wa watashitachi no seikatsu ni kakasenai mono desu

Fiber is indispensable to our lives.

• 繊維 - fiber
• は - Topic particle
• 私たち - we
• の - Possession particle
• 生活 - life
• に - target particle
• 欠かせない - indispensable
• もの - thing
• です - Verb to be/estar in the present

貧乏な生活を送っている。

Hinbō na seikatsu o okutte iru

I am living a poor life.

Living a poor life.

• 貧乏 - poverty
• な - Particle indicating adjective
• 生活 - life, lifestyle
• を - particle that indicates direct object
• 送っている - is living, is taking

質素な生活を送ることが大切だ。

Shisso na seikatsu wo okuru koto ga taisetsu da

It is important to live a simple life.

• 質素な - adjective meaning "simple", "modest"
• 生活 - noun meaning "life", "way of life"
• を - Particle that marks the direct object of the sentence
• 送る - verb that means "to send"
• こと - noun meaning "thing", "fact"
• が - Particle that marks the subject of the sentence
• 大切 - adjective meaning "important", "valuable"
• だ - auxiliary verb indicating the affirmative form of the sentence