谋生

móushēng: 谋生 - To Make a Living, To Earn a Livelihood

Quick Summary

  • Keywords: mousheng, 谋生, make a living in Chinese, earn a livelihood in Chinese, how to say make a living in Mandarin, móushēng meaning, Chinese word for livelihood, Chinese word for work, survive, subsistence.
  • Summary: Learn the essential Chinese term 谋生 (móushēng), which means “to make a living” or “to earn a livelihood.” This page explores its deeper cultural meaning, which often implies a sense of struggle, effort, and the basic necessity of working for survival. Discover how 谋生 (móushēng) differs from simply “working” and how it reflects a core pragmatic value in Chinese culture through character breakdowns, cultural context, and 10 practical example sentences.

Core Meaning

  • Pinyin (with tone marks): móushēng
  • Part of Speech: Verb
  • HSK Level: HSK 6
  • Concise Definition: To seek a livelihood; to work to support oneself; to make a living.
  • In a Nutshell: 谋生 (móushēng) is more than just “having a job.” It describes the fundamental act of working to secure the means for survival—food, shelter, and basic needs. The word carries a certain weight, emphasizing the effort, planning, and sometimes hardship involved in simply getting by. It's less about a “career” or “passion” and more about the pragmatic necessity of “subsistence.”

Character Breakdown

  • 谋 (móu): This character means “to plan,” “to scheme,” or “to seek.” It's composed of 讠(yán - speech) and 某 (mǒu - a certain). The combination suggests the act of discussing and planning to achieve a certain goal. It implies conscious effort and strategy.
  • 生 (shēng): This is a very common character meaning “life,” “to live,” or “to be born.”
  • Together, 谋生 (móushēng) literally translates to “to plan for life” or “to seek life.” This beautifully illustrates the concept: it's the strategic effort one undertakes to sustain one's existence.

Cultural Context and Significance

  • In Chinese culture, 谋生 (móushēng) reflects a deeply ingrained pragmatism born from a long history where survival was often a primary concern. It underscores the idea that work is, first and foremost, a means to provide for oneself and one's family. This value of resilience and industriousness is central to the Chinese work ethic.
  • Comparison with “Building a Career”: In Western, particularly American culture, there is a strong emphasis on “finding your passion” or “building a career,” which often implies personal fulfillment, self-expression, and upward mobility. While these concepts also exist in China, 谋生 (móushēng) represents a more fundamental, foundational layer. It's the baseline of survival upon which a career might be built. For many, a job is a 谋生 (móushēng) tool—a practical necessity—rather than an identity or a source of ultimate fulfillment. This doesn't mean the work is disliked, but its primary purpose is understood with a clear-eyed realism.

Practical Usage in Modern China

  • 谋生 (móushēng) is a common and widely understood term, though it can sound slightly more formal or serious than the colloquial 赚钱 (zhuànqián) (to earn money).
  • It's often used when discussing the economic realities of life, especially in contexts of migration, hardship, or basic trades.
    • Talking about Migration: People often say they moved to a big city to 谋生 (móushēng) (去大城市谋生).
    • Describing a Skill: Someone might rely on a specific skill to make a living, e.g., “He relies on his carpentry skills to 谋生 (móushēng)” (他靠木工手艺谋生).
    • Expressing Humility: When asked about their job, someone might humbly describe it as just a way to 谋生 (móushēng), downplaying any grand ambition.
  • The connotation is generally neutral but can lean slightly towards the difficult or laborious side of work, highlighting the effort involved.

Example Sentences

  • Example 1:
    • 为了谋生，他不得不离开家乡去大城市打工。
    • Pinyin: Wèile móushēng, tā bùdébù líkāi jiāxiāng qù dà chéngshì dǎgōng.
    • English: In order to make a living, he had no choice but to leave his hometown and work in the big city.
    • Analysis: This is a classic example showcasing the necessity and sacrifice often associated with 谋生. It's about doing what you have to do, not necessarily what you want to do.
  • Example 2:
    • 在这个竞争激烈的社会里，谋生越来越不容易了。
    • Pinyin: Zài zhège jìngzhēng jīliè de shèhuì lǐ, móushēng yuèláiyuè bù róngyì le.
    • English: In this fiercely competitive society, making a living is becoming more and more difficult.
    • Analysis: This sentence uses 谋生 to comment on broader socioeconomic pressures. It frames “making a living” as a challenge to be overcome.
  • Example 3:
    • 他靠着一手好厨艺在城里谋生。
    • Pinyin: Tā kàozhe yī shǒu hǎo chúyì zài chénglǐ móushēng.
    • English: He makes a living in the city by relying on his excellent cooking skills.
    • Analysis: This highlights that 谋生 is often tied to a specific skill or trade (手艺 - shǒuyì). It's a practical application of talent for survival.
  • Example 4:
    • 很多大学毕业生面临着谋生的压力。
    • Pinyin: Hěnduō dàxué bìyèshēng miànlínzhe móushēng de yālì.
    • English: Many university graduates face the pressure of earning a livelihood.
    • Analysis: Here, 谋生 is treated as a fundamental life stage and pressure point after education. The focus is on the transition from learning to earning.
  • Example 5:
    • 在旧社会，穷人只能靠出卖劳动力来谋生。
    • Pinyin: Zài jiù shèhuì, qióngrén zhǐnéng kào chūmài láodònglì lái móushēng.
    • English: In the old society, the poor could only make a living by selling their labor.
    • Analysis: This sentence places 谋生 in a historical context, emphasizing its connection to class, labor, and basic survival.
  • Example 6:
    • 写小说对她来说不仅是爱好，也是谋生的手段。
    • Pinyin: Xiě xiǎoshuō duì tā lái shuō bùjǐn shì àihào, yěshì móushēng de shǒuduàn.
    • English: For her, writing novels is not only a hobby but also a means of making a living.
    • Analysis: This is a great example distinguishing between passion (爱好 - àihào) and necessity (谋生的手段 - a means of making a living). It shows that the two can overlap.
  • Example 7:
    • 我的工作没什么了不起的，就是个谋生的工具。
    • Pinyin: Wǒ de gōngzuò méishénme liǎobuqǐ de, jiùshì ge móushēng de gōngjù.
    • English: My job is nothing special, it's just a tool to make a living.
    • Analysis: This demonstrates a common, humble way of speaking about one's job. It frames the job pragmatically, as a means to an end.
  • Example 8:
    • 他年纪大了，已经很难再找到谋生的活儿了。
    • Pinyin: Tā niánjì dà le, yǐjīng hěn nán zài zhǎodào móushēng de huó'r le.
    • English: He is old now, and it's already very difficult for him to find work to support himself.
    • Analysis: This sentence connects 谋生 with the ability to work, showing that losing this ability is a serious problem, especially for the elderly.
  • Example 9:
    • 父母辛苦一辈子，就是为了谋生和养家。
    • Pinyin: Fùmǔ xīnkǔ yībèizi, jiùshì wèile móushēng hé yǎngjiā.
    • English: Parents work hard their whole lives just to make a living and raise a family.
    • Analysis: This links 谋生 directly to the core family value of providing for the next generation (养家 - yǎngjiā).
  • Example 10:
    • 这个地区的居民主要以捕鱼为谋生方式。
    • Pinyin: Zhège dìqū de jūmín zhǔyào yǐ bǔyú wéi móushēng fāngshì.
    • English: The inhabitants of this region mainly make a living by fishing.
    • Analysis: A more neutral, descriptive use of the term. Here, 谋生方式 means “way of life” or “livelihood.”

Nuances and Common Mistakes

  • Don't Confuse with `工作 (gōngzuò)`:
    • 谋生 (móushēng) is the *purpose* (to survive).
    • 工作 (gōngzuò) is the *activity* (a job).
    • You can say: “我的工作是当一名司机，这是我谋生的方式。” (My job is being a driver; this is how I make a living.)
    • Incorrect: “我今天有很多谋生要做。” (I have a lot of making a living to do today.) → Correct: “我今天有很多工作要做。” (I have a lot of work to do today.)
  • It Implies Necessity, Not Hobbies:
    • 谋生 (móushēng) is tied to earning what you need to live. You would not use it to describe a hobby that doesn't pay the bills.
    • Incorrect: “我喜欢园艺，这是我的谋生。” (I like gardening, this is my livelihood.) (Assuming you have a different full-time job).
    • Correct: “我是一名职业园丁，我靠园艺谋生。” (I am a professional gardener, I make a living through gardening.)

Related Terms and Concepts

  • 工作 (gōngzuò) - Work, job. The most common and neutral term for one's employment.
  • 赚钱 (zhuànqián) - To earn money. More colloquial and direct than 谋生. It focuses on the result (money) rather than the struggle for survival.
  • 糊口 (húkǒu) - Literally “to paste the mouth.” A more informal and often grim term for just scraping by, barely earning enough to eat. It's like a more desperate version of 谋生.
  • 生计 (shēngjì) - Livelihood (noun). 谋生 is the verb “to make a living,” while 生计 is the noun “livelihood.” E.g., `维持生计` (wéichí shēngjì) - to maintain one's livelihood.
  • 饭碗 (fànwǎn) - Rice bowl. A powerful metaphor for one's job or stable source of income. Losing your job is `丢了饭碗` (diūle fànwǎn) - to lose one's rice bowl.
  • 职业 (zhíyè) - Profession, occupation. A more formal term that often implies a specific career path or field requiring training.
  • 生存 (shēngcún) - To survive, to exist. 谋生 is the economic action one takes in order to achieve 生存.
  • 奋斗 (fèndòu) - To strive, struggle, fight for. This term captures the active effort and ambition that often goes beyond simple 谋生 to achieve a better life.