<p>I think it's better to say:"幸存"。That means someone go through some bad things such as disaster or serious illness, and still be alive.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-09-28T05:03:44.380Z
My dictionary only lists this as a noun. Does it also work as a verb?
hippietrail
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-09-29T02:36:37.197Z
Yes, you can use it also as a verb, but often an intransitive verb:

so you can say:

他在地震中幸存下来。 He survived in the earthquake.

他在那次事故中幸存下来。He survived in that accident.

but do not say:

他幸存了那次事故/地震。（a literal translate from "He survived the typhoon")
maverickpuss
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-10-07T10:06:32.937Z
I also mostly see a common use of this word as the noun 幸存者 - survivor. Here is a very relevant example: http://blog.ychsiwo.net/ygsl/4028.html
Yoav Vollansky
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-09-28T03:21:08.307Z
2016-09-28T03:21:08.307Z
Sandro
<p><strong>Major Update</strong>:</p>

<p>Since the word "survive" contains more than one meaning, it may be necessary to translate different definition to different Chinese word. </p>

<blockquote>
  <p><a href="http://www.dictionary.com/browse/survive" rel="nofollow">http://www.dictionary.com/browse/survive</a></p>
</blockquote>

<p><strong>verb (used without object), survived, surviving.</strong> </p>

<ul>
<li><ol>
<li>to remain alive after the death of someone, the cessation of something, or the occurrence of some event; continue to live:
<em>Few survived after the holocaust</em>.</li>
</ol></li>
</ul>

<p>In definition (1), there is no simple translation for " <em>to remain alive after the death of someone</em>" but for "<em>continue to live</em>" , the translation would be 生還; 存活 </p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Few <strong>survived</strong> after the holocaust (大屠殺之後很少人<strong>生還/存活</strong>)</p>
</blockquote>

<ul>
<li><ol start="2">
<li>to remain or continue in existence or use:
<em>Ancient farming methods still survive in the Middle East.</em></li>
</ol></li>
</ul>

<p>In definition (2), the translation would be 留存; 保存</p>

<ul>
<li><ol start="3">
<li>to get along or remain healthy, happy, and unaffected in spite of some occurrence:
<em>She's surviving after the divorce.</em></li>
</ol></li>
</ul>

<p>No simple translation for definition (3)</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>She's <strong>surviving</strong> after the divorce (離婚後她<strong>繼續正常地生活下去</strong>)</p>
</blockquote>

<p><strong>verb (used with object), survived, surviving.</strong> </p>

<ul>
<li><ol start="4">
<li>to continue to live or exist after the death, cessation, or occurrence of:
<em>His wife survived him. He survived the operation.</em></li>
</ol></li>
</ul>

<p>In definition (4), there's no simple translation for the first example sentence. For the second example sentence, the translation would be 挺過</p>

<ul>
<li><ol start="5">
<li>to endure or live through (an affliction, adversity, misery, etc.):
<em>She's survived two divorces.</em></li>
</ol></li>
</ul>

<p>In definition (5), the translation would be 挺過</p>

<p>The sentence in the question "I <strong>survived</strong> the typhoon”  is similar to the example sentence in definition (4): <em>He <strong>survived</strong> the operation</em>. which means survived should be translated to <strong>挺過了</strong></p>

<blockquote>
  <p>He <strong>survived</strong> the operation (他<strong>挺過了</strong>手術)</p>
  
  <p>I <strong>survived</strong> the typhoon (我<strong>挺過了</strong>颱風)</p>
</blockquote>

<p>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>生還 <a href="http://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/dictionary/words/30546/" rel="nofollow">http://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/dictionary/words/30546/</a></p>
  
  <p>脫險 <a href="http://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/dictionary/words/33659/" rel="nofollow">http://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/dictionary/words/33659/</a></p>
  
  <p>存活 <a href="http://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/dictionary/words/50120/" rel="nofollow">http://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/dictionary/words/50120/</a></p>
</blockquote>

<p>"I <strong>survived</strong> the typhoon”</p>

<p>我在颱風中<strong>生還</strong></p>

<p>我在颱風中<strong>脫險</strong></p>

<p>我在颱風中<strong>存活</strong></p>

<p>Unlike " to survive" in English, the Chinese verb 生存，生還，脫險 and 存活 do not act on object. You cannot say 我生還了颱風 or 我脫險了颱風</p>

<p>For verb that can act on an object like typhoon (颱風) , you can use  "挺過"</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>挺 <a href="http://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/dictionary/characters/2044/" rel="nofollow">http://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/dictionary/characters/2044/</a></p>
  
  <p>*[3] endure</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Example:</p>

<p>"我<strong>挺過</strong>了颱風" (I <strong>survived</strong>/ <strong>endured</strong> the typhoon)</p>

<p>"這建築物挺過了三次戰爭" (this building <strong>survived</strong> / <strong>endured</strong> three wars)</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-09-28T03:48:53.220Z
挺過 as in 挺過了這次的颱風 (survived this typhoon) is definitely heard in Taiwan, but it's the first time I heard of 颱風中生還, 颱風中脫險, and 颱風中存活 (I personally don't speak Cantonese). Are these words used to describe surviving a typhoon in China and Hong Kong? No microagression intended, only curious because I live in Taiwan and am curious about the differences between Chinese usage in Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan.
辛祐賦 hsinyofu
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-09-28T03:54:19.863Z
生還 can be and is often paired with 生還者 to describe a survivor. 颱風天的生還者 -> Survivor of a (day of) typhoon.
辛祐賦 hsinyofu
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-09-28T04:11:26.503Z
Why not? the structure of "在颱風中生還", is the same as "於大火中喪生" (preposition)+(object)+(verb)
Tang Ho
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-09-28T05:46:02.883Z
So 挺過 is not a word but a phrase? How might I analyse this phrase as an English speaker to understand it well given that dictionaries list both as verbs and have a bunch of translations or meanings for each one?
hippietrail
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-09-28T05:56:28.640Z
挺過 is a verb means "to endure", for example: "Can this house 挺過(endure/survive)  the typhoon?" ; 挺過了 means "have endured" as in:  " This house 挺過了(has endured/ has survived ) the typhoon."
Tang Ho
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-09-28T06:38:10.607Z
Oh so it is a word after all. I couldn't find it in dictionaries. I'll look some more.
hippietrail
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-09-28T06:50:06.403Z
In "挺過", "挺"( endure) is the main verb; 過( through) is a verb particle. Similar to 通過，with 通(pass) as the main verb, and 過(through) as a verb particle.
Tang Ho
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-09-29T14:13:46.283Z
过 like 了、着 is called aspectual particle or 动态助词 in ＂外国人实用汉语语法＂and ＂实用现代汉语语法＂。
user6065
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-09-28T03:36:48.430Z
2016-09-28T19:54:52.537Z
2016-09-28T19:54:52.537Z
Tang Ho
<p>The word '生存' does not imply much details about how much suffering you have experienced and it only gives the information that you are alive.</p>

<p>The word '幸存' means that not only are you alive but also have experienced some difficulties to get through. Besides, it usually indicates that this is a relatively good outcome by the character'幸' in the word.</p>

<p>The word '度过' means that you have just experienced it in contrast to the case in which you have never had such an experience.</p>

<p>The word '挺过' is the stronger form of '度过' in tone, by the use of which you may want to tell people you finally got through it and you were very relieved after it. Some struggling and suffering are included.</p>

<p>The word '存活' is a little emotive compared to '生存' which is quite formal and neutral.</p>

<p>The word '生还' is the written form of '存活' when one refers to the result rather than the process.</p>

<p>I have to point out that almost any of the words in the many posts of others is completely right to use in the view of a Chinese as long as it is grammatical. The difference lies in which Chinese character the word that you use contains. You know, character and word are two different concepts in Chinese and it is the core of Chinese learning at the advanced level.</p>

<p>Finally, there seems no single words with the meaning'get through a disaster unscathed', and if 'survive' also has the meaning of unscathed, I suppose you would have to express it in two words, which could be like this: 在这场台风中，我毫发未损。' or '我毫发无伤地在这场台风中生还下来。'.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-09-29T06:25:47.723Z
毫发未损= "unscathed". Even you survived a disaster, you may not be unscathed.  In fact, someone could lose his whole family,  his right arm and left leg in an earthquake and he would still be considered a survivor- as long as he is still alive.
Tang Ho
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-09-29T06:51:21.970Z
Oh,if we are both chinese,why should we two talk?Er,I find that there are no need to discuss our own language here provided that both of our answer is helpful to the questioner however it is.^_^
蔡立宇
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-09-29T07:28:52.673Z
In English "survived" doesn't imply "unscathed" but the two often go together as a common idiomatic collocation.
hippietrail
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-09-29T05:59:43.047Z
2016-09-29T07:27:52.360Z
2016-09-29T07:27:52.360Z
蔡立宇
<p>Thanks for the good question. It's always interesting to see the cultural difference between English speaking countries vs Chinese speaking countries.   </p>

<p>Common phrases for surviving a typhoon would be 度過颱風 -> survived a typhoon  </p>

<p>It's often combined with 平安 -> peacefully (平安度過颱風), which shows the religious cultural side of Chinese (referencing Taoism &amp; Buddhism). It feels like there is a sense of acknowledgement and respect of nature, like it something can one cannot prevent/stop. In English speaking countries, one would hardly ever describe surviving a typhoon as hoping for a peaceful outcome. </p>

<p>生存 is highly influenced by pop culture like zombies and survival (live or die) type situations. Games like《How to <strong>Survive</strong>》, are translated as 殭屍<strong>生存</strong>遊戲.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-09-28T04:08:05.787Z
度過 means " passing through" 平安度過 means " safely passing through"
Tang Ho
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-09-28T05:10:18.987Z
@TangHo: My popup dictionary lists these meanings for 度過: to pass; to spend (time); to survive; to get through. I think the perfect idiomatic translations for 平安度過 could well be "to survive unscathed", "to make it through without a scratch". "to get through (something) safe and sound".
hippietrail
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-09-28T05:16:22.267Z
Here's a helpful hint for learning how to phrase different words, from the answers given on this site, you can type in the following combinations in google and see the results. "度過 + 颱風". User TangHo also submitted some unique answers, "颱風 + 生還", "颱風 + 脫險", "颱風 + 存活". I believe the results change if you use simplified and traditional chinese, which is why I asked the above questions at @TangHo.
辛祐賦 hsinyofu
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-09-28T03:11:49.727Z
2016-09-28T03:22:14.420Z
2016-09-28T03:22:14.420Z
辛祐賦 hsinyofu
<p>When I looked up the Chinese word for "survive" so far I only came up with "生存"?</p>

<p>But the glosses into English 生存 cover "live", "exist", "subsist".</p>

<p>This seems to be quite different from the common English meaning og getting through dangerous event unscathed.</p>

<p>Is there a better Chinese word that has that meaning?</p>

<translation><word-choice><meaning-in-context>
Is there a better word than 生存 for uses such as "I survived the typhoon"?
# Is there a better word than 生存 for uses such as "I survived the typhoon"?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-09-28)

When I looked up the Chinese word for "survive" so far I only came up with "生存"?

But the glosses into English 生存 cover "live", "exist", "subsist".

This seems to be quite different from the common English meaning og getting through dangerous event unscathed.

Is there a better Chinese word that has that meaning?

**Tags:** translation, word-choice, meaning-in-context


---

## 4 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2016-09-28. Score: 3

I think it's better to say:"幸存"。That means someone go through some bad things such as disaster or serious illness, and still be alive.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: My dictionary only lists this as a noun. Does it also work as a verb?  
> **username_2**: Yes, you can use it also as a verb, but often an intransitive verb:  so you can say:  他在地震中幸存下来。 He survived in the earthquake.  他在那次事故中幸存下来。He survived in that accident.  but do not say:  他幸存了那次事故/地震。（a literal translate from "He survived the typhoon")  
> **username_3**: I also mostly see a common use of this word as the noun 幸存者 - survivor. Here is a very relevant example: http://blog.ychsiwo.net/ygsl/4028.html  

---

### Answer by username_4 on 2016-09-28. Score: 2

**Major Update**:

Since the word "survive" contains more than one meaning, it may be necessary to translate different definition to different Chinese word.

> <http://www.dictionary.com/browse/survive>

**verb (used without object), survived, surviving.**

* 1. to remain alive after the death of someone, the cessation of something, or the occurrence of some event; continue to live:
     *Few survived after the holocaust*.

In definition (1), there is no simple translation for " *to remain alive after the death of someone*" but for "*continue to live*" , the translation would be 生還; 存活

> Few **survived** after the holocaust (大屠殺之後很少人**生還/存活**)

* 2. to remain or continue in existence or use:
     *Ancient farming methods still survive in the Middle East.*

In definition (2), the translation would be 留存; 保存

* 3. to get along or remain healthy, happy, and unaffected in spite of some occurrence:
     *She's surviving after the divorce.*

No simple translation for definition (3)

> She's **surviving** after the divorce (離婚後她**繼續正常地生活下去**)

**verb (used with object), survived, surviving.**

* 4. to continue to live or exist after the death, cessation, or occurrence of:
     *His wife survived him. He survived the operation.*

In definition (4), there's no simple translation for the first example sentence. For the second example sentence, the translation would be 挺過

* 5. to endure or live through (an affliction, adversity, misery, etc.):
     *She's survived two divorces.*

In definition (5), the translation would be 挺過

The sentence in the question "I **survived** the typhoon” is similar to the example sentence in definition (4): *He **survived** the operation*. which means survived should be translated to **挺過了**

> He **survived** the operation (他**挺過了**手術)
>
> I **survived** the typhoon (我**挺過了**颱風)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

> 生還 <http://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/dictionary/words/30546/>
>
> 脫險 <http://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/dictionary/words/33659/>
>
> 存活 <http://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/dictionary/words/50120/>

"I **survived** the typhoon”

我在颱風中**生還**

我在颱風中**脫險**

我在颱風中**存活**

Unlike " to survive" in English, the Chinese verb 生存，生還，脫險 and 存活 do not act on object. You cannot say 我生還了颱風 or 我脫險了颱風

For verb that can act on an object like typhoon (颱風) , you can use "挺過"

> 挺 <http://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/dictionary/characters/2044/>
>
> \*[3] endure

Example:

"我**挺過**了颱風" (I **survived**/ **endured** the typhoon)

"這建築物挺過了三次戰爭" (this building **survived** / **endured** three wars)

> **Comments:**
> **username_5**: 挺過 as in 挺過了這次的颱風 (survived this typhoon) is definitely heard in Taiwan, but it's the first time I heard of 颱風中生還, 颱風中脫險, and 颱風中存活 (I personally don't speak Cantonese). Are these words used to describe surviving a typhoon in China and Hong Kong? No microagression intended, only curious because I live in Taiwan and am curious about the differences between Chinese usage in Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan.  
> **username_5**: 生還 can be and is often paired with 生還者 to describe a survivor. 颱風天的生還者 -> Survivor of a (day of) typhoon.  
> **username_4**: Why not? the structure of "在颱風中生還", is the same as "於大火中喪生" (preposition)+(object)+(verb)  
> **username_0**: So 挺過 is not a word but a phrase? How might I analyse this phrase as an English speaker to understand it well given that dictionaries list both as verbs and have a bunch of translations or meanings for each one?  
> **username_4**: 挺過 is a verb means "to endure", for example: "Can this house 挺過(endure/survive)  the typhoon?" ; 挺過了 means "have endured" as in:  " This house 挺過了(has endured/ has survived ) the typhoon."  
> **username_0**: Oh so it is a word after all. I couldn't find it in dictionaries. I'll look some more.  
> **username_4**: In "挺過", "挺"( endure) is the main verb; 過( through) is a verb particle. Similar to 通過，with 通(pass) as the main verb, and 過(through) as a verb particle.  
> **username_6**: 过 like 了、着 is called aspectual particle or 动态助词 in ＂外国人实用汉语语法＂and ＂实用现代汉语语法＂。  

---

### Answer by username_7 on 2016-09-29. Score: 1

The word '生存' does not imply much details about how much suffering you have experienced and it only gives the information that you are alive.

The word '幸存' means that not only are you alive but also have experienced some difficulties to get through. Besides, it usually indicates that this is a relatively good outcome by the character'幸' in the word.

The word '度过' means that you have just experienced it in contrast to the case in which you have never had such an experience.

The word '挺过' is the stronger form of '度过' in tone, by the use of which you may want to tell people you finally got through it and you were very relieved after it. Some struggling and suffering are included.

The word '存活' is a little emotive compared to '生存' which is quite formal and neutral.

The word '生还' is the written form of '存活' when one refers to the result rather than the process.

I have to point out that almost any of the words in the many posts of others is completely right to use in the view of a Chinese as long as it is grammatical. The difference lies in which Chinese character the word that you use contains. You know, character and word are two different concepts in Chinese and it is the core of Chinese learning at the advanced level.

Finally, there seems no single words with the meaning'get through a disaster unscathed', and if 'survive' also has the meaning of unscathed, I suppose you would have to express it in two words, which could be like this: 在这场台风中，我毫发未损。' or '我毫发无伤地在这场台风中生还下来。'.

> **Comments:**
> **username_4**: 毫发未损= "unscathed". Even you survived a disaster, you may not be unscathed.  In fact, someone could lose his whole family,  his right arm and left leg in an earthquake and he would still be considered a survivor- as long as he is still alive.  
> **username_7**: Oh,if we are both chinese,why should we two talk?Er,I find that there are no need to discuss our own language here provided that both of our answer is helpful to the questioner however it is.^_^  
> **username_0**: In English "survived" doesn't imply "unscathed" but the two often go together as a common idiomatic collocation.  

---

### Answer by username_5 on 2016-09-28. Score: 1

Thanks for the good question. It's always interesting to see the cultural difference between English speaking countries vs Chinese speaking countries.

Common phrases for surviving a typhoon would be 度過颱風 -> survived a typhoon

It's often combined with 平安 -> peacefully (平安度過颱風), which shows the religious cultural side of Chinese (referencing Taoism & Buddhism). It feels like there is a sense of acknowledgement and respect of nature, like it something can one cannot prevent/stop. In English speaking countries, one would hardly ever describe surviving a typhoon as hoping for a peaceful outcome.

生存 is highly influenced by pop culture like zombies and survival (live or die) type situations. Games like《How to **Survive**》, are translated as 殭屍**生存**遊戲.

> **Comments:**
> **username_4**: 度過 means " passing through" 平安度過 means " safely passing through"  
> **username_0**: @username_4: My popup dictionary lists these meanings for 度過: to pass; to spend (time); to survive; to get through. I think the perfect idiomatic translations for 平安度過 could well be "to survive unscathed", "to make it through without a scratch". "to get through (something) safe and sound".  
> **username_5**: Here's a helpful hint for learning how to phrase different words, from the answers given on this site, you can type in the following combinations in google and see the results. "度過 + 颱風". User username_4 also submitted some unique answers, "颱風 + 生還", "颱風 + 脫險", "颱風 + 存活". I believe the results change if you use simplified and traditional chinese, which is why I asked the above questions at @username_4.  

---

