Chinese–EnglishWith examples

谋生

móu shēng · mou sheng

Traditional 謀生

HSK 7–9

Meaning

CC-CEDICT
  1. to seek one's livelihood
  2. to work to support oneself
  3. to earn a living
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In a conversation

0:23 cartoon

Paying for the portrait

  1. Dengdeng

    亮亮(liàngliàng)，你(nǐ)以前(yǐqián)在(zài)街边(jiēbiān)卖画(màihuà)，是(shì)为了(wèile)谋生(móushēng)吗(ma)？

    Liangliang, did you sell paintings on the street to make a living?

  2. Liangliang

    对(duì)，那(nà)时候(shíhou)我(wǒ)靠(kào)画画(huàhuà)谋生(móushēng)。

    Yes, back then I made a living by painting.

  3. Dengdeng

    现在(xiànzài)呢(ne)？

    And now?

  4. Liangliang

    现在(xiànzài)我(wǒ)有(yǒu)别的(biéde)工作(gōngzuò)，画画(huàhuà)是(shì)爱好(àihào)。

    Now I have another job. Painting is a hobby.

  5. Dengdeng

    那(nà)你(nǐ)怎么(zěnme)给(gěi)我(wǒ)画(huà)了(le)一张(yīzhāng)，还(hái)要(yào)收钱(shōuqián)？

    Then why did you draw me one and charge me?

  6. Liangliang

    朋友(péngyou)也(yě)要(yào)谋生(móushēng)啊(a)，一张(yīzhāng)十块(shíkuài)。

    Friends need to make a living too. Ten yuan each.

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In a sentence

2 examples
01

以(yǐ)漫(màn)画(huà)家(jiā)谋(móu)生(shēng)几(jī)乎(hū)不(bù)可(kě)能(néng)。

Making a living as a manga artist is almost impossible.

Tatoeba: Chinese by tato23bak · English by Scott · CC BY 2.0 FR. Pinyin added or corrected.

02

他(tā)年(nián)轻(qīng)时(shí)就(jiù)离(lí)开(kāi)家(jiā)乡(xiāng)，去(qù)外(wài)地(dì)谋(móu)生(shēng)。

He left his hometown when he was young to earn a living elsewhere.

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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.

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