Life, Birth, Live
いきる (ikiru), うまれる (umareru), なま (nama)
Interesting Fact
In Japanese mythology, "Sakuya-hime" became suspiciously pregnant in one night after marrying. To prove the child was truly her husband's, she locked herself inside a hut and set it on fire while giving birth. She declared that if the child belonged to her husband, both mother and baby would survive. She successfully gave birth to three boys in the midst of the fire. That's why "Sakuya-hime" became a goddess associated with childbirth and new life.
Memory Trick
The lower part is 土 (earth), while the top stroke resembles a lever. Pull the lever and life springs out of the earth—forming 生. Meaning Earth is source of Life.
Readings
Onyomi: セイ (sei), ショウ (shou)
Kunyomi: いきる (ikiru), うまれる (umareru), なま (nama)
Example Words
Example Sentence
私は東京で生まれました。
わたし は とうきょう で うまれました。
watashi wa toukyou de umaremashita
I was born in Tokyo.