Chinese–EnglishWith examples

死活

sǐ huó · si huo

Same in simplified and traditional Chinese

Meaning

CC-CEDICT
  1. life or death
  2. fate
  3. no matter what
  4. anyway
  5. for the life of me
Embed this word

Put this word on your class page or blog. Keep the link under the frame, so people can find the word. More widgets

In a conversation

0:18 cartoon

The password

  1. Dengdeng

    我(wǒ)的(de)手机(shǒujī)密码(mìmǎ)，我(wǒ)死活(sǐhuó)想不起来(xiǎngbùqǐlai)。

    I can't remember my phone password no matter what.

  2. Liangliang

    你(nǐ)再(zài)想(xiǎng)想(xiǎng)。

    Think again.

  3. Dengdeng

    我(wǒ)试(shì)了(le)十次(shícì)，死活(sǐhuó)进不去(jìnbùqù)。

    I tried ten times and still can't get in.

  4. Liangliang

    密码(mìmǎ)是不是(shìbùshì)我(wǒ)的(de)生日(shēngrì)？

    Is the password my birthday?

  5. Dengdeng

    对(duì)！我(wǒ)怕(pà)忘(wàng)，就(jiù)用(yòng)了(le)你(nǐ)的(de)生日(shēngrì)。

    Yes! I was afraid to forget, so I used your birthday.

  6. Liangliang

    可是(kěshì)你(nǐ)每年(měinián)都(dōu)忘(wàng)我(wǒ)的(de)生日(shēngrì)！

    But you forget my birthday every year!

Tap a word for its meaning in this line. The characters’ voices are computer-generated.

In a sentence

2 examples
01

她(tā)的(de)地(dì)址(zhǐ)死(sǐ)活(huó)想(xiǎng)不(bu)起(qǐ)来(lái)。

I can't for the life of me remember her address.

Tatoeba: Chinese by zhouj1955 · English by CK · CC BY 2.0 FR. Pinyin added or corrected.

02

汤(tāng)姆(mǔ)不(bù)知(zhī)道(dào)玛(mǎ)丽(lì)的(de)死(sǐ)活(huó)。

Tom doesn't know if Mary is dead or alive.

Tatoeba: Chinese by BobbyLee · English by CK · CC BY 2.0 FR. Pinyin added or corrected.

Sources & licenses

How to write

Stroke order & practice

Choose a character to watch its strokes or trace it yourself.

Mainland China stroke order, including traditional characters. Drawing sources & licenses.

Definitions adapted from CC-CEDICT, published by MDBG and its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Pinyin display and entry grouping have been adapted.

Browse all wordsExplore words in context