living
/ˈlɪvɪŋ/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈlɪvɪŋ/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈli-viŋ/ (ame, mw) · /ˈlɪv.ɪŋ/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈlɪv.ɪŋ/ (ame, ipa)
living — 形容詞
1. having life at the present time; not dead. Used to describe people, animals, pla
活的
目前活著的，非死亡的
having life at the present time; not dead. Used to describe people, animals, plants, and other organisms that are biologically alive.
All living things need water, food, and sunlight to survive.
所有生物都需要水、食物和陽光才能生存。
collocation: living things
The coral reef is home to thousands of living organisms.
這片珊瑚礁是數千種生物的家園。
collocation: living organisms
Every living being on Earth depends on the sun for energy.
地球上的每個生物都依賴太陽獲取能量。
The forest ranger monitors every living creature in the national park.
森林巡邏員密切關注國家公園內的每一種生物。
文法句型
living + noun (living thing / living organism)
用法筆記
Attributive only — almost always followed by a noun (thing, organism, creature). Predicative use ('The dog is living') is possible but rare; prefer 'alive' in that position.
常見錯誤
2. continuing to be used or practised today, rather than being a thing of the past.
現存的
至今仍被使用或實踐的
continuing to be used or practised today, rather than being a thing of the past. Often applied to languages, traditions, memories, or faiths that remain current.
Irish is a living language spoken daily in parts of western Ireland.
愛爾蘭語是一種活語言，在愛爾蘭西部某些地區仍每日使用。
collocation: living language
This festival is a living tradition that has been passed down for centuries.
這個節慶是流傳數百年的活傳統。
collocation: living tradition
That earthquake is still within living memory for many older residents.
對許多年長居民來說，那次地震仍存在於在世者的記憶中。
Mauricio's grandmother is a living link to the village's early history.
Mauricio 的祖母是連接村莊早期歷史的活見證。
文法句型
living + noun (living language / living memory / living tradition)
用法筆記
Always attributive. The phrase 'in living memory' means within a period that people still alive can remember. 'Living proof' (see Idioms) is a related fixed expression that uses this sense.
3. so realistic or accurate that something seems as real as if it were actually ali
栩栩如生的
極其逼真，如同活的一樣
so realistic or accurate that something seems as real as if it were actually alive or happening; extremely vivid and lifelike.
The sculptor created a living portrait that captured every detail of her face.
這位雕刻家創作了一幅栩栩如生的肖像，捕捉了她臉上的每個細節。
collocation: living portrait
Kasia is a living image of her mother when she was young.
Kasia 簡直是她母親年輕時的翻版。
idiom: living image of someone
The makeup artist turned the actor into a living statue for the street performance.
化妝師把那位演員變成了街頭表演中的活雕像。
Tariro's description of the village was so vivid it felt like a living picture.
Tariro 對村莊的描述非常生動，感覺就像一幅活生生的畫。
- unrealistic
not true to life
- stiff
lacking natural movement or appearance
文法句型
living + noun (living portrait / living image)
look/seem + living
用法筆記
Frequently found in the fixed phrase 'a living image of someone' meaning a very strong resemblance. Also common in artistic contexts (living portrait, living picture).
4. designed, used, or suitable for people to live in as a home rather than for work
居住用的
設計供人居住而非工作的
designed, used, or suitable for people to live in as a home rather than for work or other purposes.
The apartment has a bright living room with large windows facing south.
這間公寓有一間明亮的客廳，落地窗朝南。
common compound: living room
The students share a small living space with a kitchen and one bathroom.
學生們共用一個小起居空間，內有廚房和一間浴室。
collocation: living space
Jabari converted the basement into extra living quarters for guests.
Jabari 把地下室改造成了額外的客房。
The new building combines living areas with ground-floor shops and cafes.
這棟新建築將居住區與地面層的商店和咖啡廳結合在一起。
- residential
formal; describes zones or buildings rather than rooms
- habitable
focuses on suitability rather than purpose
文法句型
living + noun (living room / living space / living quarters)
用法筆記
Highly productive in compound nouns: living room, living space, living quarters, living area, living accommodation. Not used for temporary shelter (tent, hotel room).
living — 名詞
1. the money you earn by working, which you use to pay for the things you need such
生計
工作賺取的錢，用以維持生活
the money you earn by working, which you use to pay for the things you need such as food, rent, and clothing. Almost always used in the phrase 'make a living' or 'earn a living'.
Indra makes a living as a freelance graphic designer for local businesses.
Indra 以自由接案的平面設計師工作維生，為本地商家服務。
pattern: make a living as [job]
It is hard to earn a living from farming when the weather is so unpredictable.
天氣如此難以預測時，很難靠農耕謀生。
pattern: earn a living from [source]
Maeve makes a good living by teaching piano lessons in her neighbourhood.
Maeve 在社區教授鋼琴課，收入相當不錯。
Many young people struggle to make a living in expensive cities like London or Tokyo.
許多年輕人在倫敦或東京等昂貴的城市難以維持生計。
- livelihood
slightly more formal; emphasises the means of support
- income
broader; money received from any source, not just work
- wage
specifically a regular payment for hourly or daily work
文法句型
make + a + living + (as / by / from / doing)
earn + a + living + (as / by)
用法筆記
Almost always appears with the indefinite article 'a' in fixed phrases: 'make a living', 'earn a living'. The plural 'livings' is rare except in specialized financial or ecclesiastical contexts. The related phrase 'living wage' refers to a wage that covers basic needs.
常見錯誤
2. a position in the Church of England in which a priest is responsible for a parti
聖俸
英國國教牧師的職位與收入
a position in the Church of England in which a priest is responsible for a particular church or parish and receives a guaranteed income from it.
The bishop offered him a living in a small village in the Yorkshire countryside.
主教指派他到約克郡鄉間的一個小村莊擔任牧師（聖俸職位）。
Eli was appointed to the living at St. Mary's Church after serving as a curate for five years.
Eli 在擔任助理牧師五年後，獲任命為聖瑪麗教堂的聖俸牧師。
pattern: appointed to a living
In the 19th century, many clergymen relied on family connections to secure a comfortable living.
在十九世紀，許多神職人員靠家族關係才能獲得一份優渥的聖俸。
After retiring from his living, the vicar continued to lead Sunday services for the community.
那位牧師從聖俸職位退休後，仍繼續為社區主持主日禮拜。
文法句型
a + living + (in + place / at + church)
用法筆記
[UK, ecclesiastical — Church of England] This sense is very specific to the Anglican church structure and is rarely encountered outside the UK. Do not use for other denominations.
3. the particular way in which a person or group spends their daily life, including
生活方式
個人或群體的日常生活方式
the particular way in which a person or group spends their daily life, including their habits, values, routines, and choices.
Emma believes in healthy living and exercises every morning before work.
Emma 信奉健康生活，每天上班前都會運動。
collocation: healthy living
City living can be exciting, but it is also expensive and crowded.
都市生活雖然刺激，但也昂貴又擁擠。
collocation: city living
Quan and his partner left their busy jobs to embrace a life of simple living in the mountains.
Quan 和他的伴侶辭去了繁忙的工作，到山區過著簡樸的生活。
The cost of living has risen sharply over the past five years.
過去五年來，生活成本大幅上漲。
- lifestyle
more modern and personal; often implies choice
- existence
more general and sometimes formal
- way of life
more formal fixed phrase, often used for cultures or groups
文法句型
adjective + living (healthy living / simple living)
the + noun + living (city living / country living)
用法筆記
Widely used in compound terms: 'cost of living' (the general level of prices), 'standard of living' (quality of material comfort), 'healthy living', 'simple living'. When preceded by a noun modifier (city living, country living, apartment living) it forms a common compound describing a lifestyle category.
4. people who are alive at the present time, considered as a group. Always used wit
在世者
仍然活著的人（集合名詞）
people who are alive at the present time, considered as a group. Always used with the definite article 'the' as a collective noun.
The living often visit cemeteries to remember those who have passed away.
在世的人常去墓地悼念已故的親友。
pattern: the living (collective)
The ceremony honoured both the living and the dead who served in the war.
這場典禮同時表彰了參戰的活著與陣亡的人。
common pairing: the living and the dead
It is the responsibility of the living to preserve the stories of past generations.
保存過去世代的故事，是在世者的責任。
According to ancient beliefs, the spirits of ancestors watch over the living.
根據古老的信仰，祖先的靈魂守護著在世的人。
- the living
the same — no substitute; this is the only way to express this meaning
- living persons
formal/legal alternative for individual reference
- the living ones
informal equivalent
- the dead
the direct opposite group
- the departed
euphemistic for the dead
文法句型
the + living (the living and the dead)
用法筆記
Always used as a plural collective noun with 'the'. Takes a plural verb: 'the living are...' (not 'the living is...'). Often contrasted with 'the dead' in formal or solemn contexts.
常見錯誤
5. the state or experience of being alive; the fact that a person exists and experi
活著；生存
活著的狀態或經歷
the state or experience of being alive; the fact that a person exists and experiences life from day to day.
Ishaan felt a deep appreciation for the simple joy of living after his recovery.
Ishaan 康復之後，深深體會到活著的單純喜悅。
collocation: joy of living
The fear of dying should not stop you from enjoying the experience of living.
對死亡的恐懼不該阻礙你享受活著的體驗。
pattern: the [noun] of living
For many people, travel is the best part of living because it opens their minds.
對許多人來說，旅行的經歷是人生中最美好的一部分。
The documentary explored the harsh realities of living in a war zone.
這部紀錄片展現了戰區生活的殘酷現實。
- death
the opposite state
- non-existence
philosophical opposite
文法句型
the experience / joy / fear of living
用法筆記
Uncountable and abstract. Frequently appears in phrases like 'the art of living', 'the joy of living', 'the experience of living', 'the fear of living'. Do not confuse with the countable noun 'life' (you can have a good life, but not *a good living in this sense).