Definition
苟活 means 'to drag out an ignoble existence' — living a shameful, worthless life, often used in self-criticism or to describe difficult circumstances. It is a separable verb (离合词): you can insert elements like duration or aspect markers between 苟 and 活, e.g., 苟了几年活 ('lived ignobly for a few years'). This word is formal/literary and not used in everyday conversation.
v.o.
to drag out an ignoble existenceto live a shameful life
Examples
- 苟活。Tā juéde zìjǐ zhèyàng gǒu huó xiàqù méiyǒu yìyì.He feels that continuing to live like this is meaningless.
- ，苟活。Zài nà duàn hēi'àn de suìyuè lǐ, xǔduō rén zhǐ néng gǒu huó.In those dark times, many could only drag out an ignoble existence.
- ，。Tā gǒu le jǐ nián huó, zhōngyú juédìng gǎibiàn.He lived ignobly for a few years and finally decided to change.
Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.