Meaning of 再生
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- to be reborn
- to regenerate
- to be a second so-and-so (famous dead person)
- recycling
- regeneration
How to use 再生
再生 is common in science, environmental and formal contexts, such as 再生能源 (renewable energy), 再生纸 (recycled paper) and 细胞再生 (cell regeneration). It can also praise someone as a second version of a famous figure, as in 华佗再生 (a second Hua Tuo, a brilliant doctor). Example: 这种纸是用再生材料做的。(Zhè zhǒng zhǐ shì yòng zàishēng cáiliào zuò de.) This paper is made from recycled materials.
再 (zài) means again and 生 (shēng) means to be born or to grow, so 再生 is to be born or grow again. Picture a plant cut down to the root that sprouts a second time.
Common mistake: Learners often mix up 再 (zài, again) with 在 (zài, at or in) because they sound the same, and write 在生 by mistake. Also, 生 here is fully stressed in the first tone, unlike the neutral tone in 先生 (xiānsheng).
再生 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
再 zài · again · 6 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
生 shēng · to grow · 5 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
Related words
Words that share a character with 再生.
| 先生 | xiānsheng | teacher; gentleman; sir; mister (Mr.) |
| 再见 | zàijiàn | goodbye; see you again later |
| 医生 | yīshēng | doctor; medical practitioner |
| 生气 | shēngqì | to get angry; to be furious; vitality; liveliness |
| 学生 | xuéshēng | student; schoolchild |
| 生日 | shēngrì | birthday |
| 生病 | shēngbìng | to fall ill |
| 女生 | nǚshēng | schoolgirl; female student |
| 男生 | nánshēng | schoolboy; male student |
| 大学生 | dàxuéshēng | university student; college student |
| 小学生 | xiǎoxuéshēng | primary school student; schoolchild |
| 中学生 | zhōngxuéshēng | middle-school student; high school student |
Questions about 再生
What does 再生 mean?
再生 (zàishēng) means "to be reborn; to regenerate" and is used as a verb.
How do you write 再生?
再生 is made of 2 characters: 再 (6 strokes), 生 (5 strokes). That is 11 strokes in total.
Is 再生 an HSK word?
Yes. 再生 is on the HSK 6 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
What is the difference between 再生 and 回收?
回收 (huíshōu) means to collect or take back used items, the act of recycling. 再生 describes the result, material that has been made usable again, as in 再生塑料 (recycled plastic). So you 回收 bottles, and they become 再生 material.
Does 再生 mean reincarnation in a religious sense?
It can mean to be reborn, but for Buddhist reincarnation Chinese usually says 转世 (zhuǎnshì) or 轮回 (lúnhuí). 再生 is more often used for regeneration or a dramatic new life, like 获得再生 (to get a new lease on life).