出生
chūshēng · HSK 2
be born
👶 出 = exit + 生 = life/birth → exit into life = be born
出 means to go out or exit; 生 means life, birth, or to be born. Together 出生 literally reads as 'exit life' — the moment of coming out into life. Common in dates: 出生日期 = date of birth.
出 — foot 止 emerging from enclosure 凵
出 is a pictograph showing a foot or plant stepping out of a hollow or enclosure, depicting the act of going forth. The original sense of 'coming out' or 'emerging' has remained stable since oracle bone script. It now broadly means 'to exit, go out, or produce.'
生 — sprout 屮 above earth 土
Originally a pictograph showing a young plant sprouting from the ground, with 屮 (a sprout) above 土 (earth). The core meaning is 'to be born, to grow, to live,' which extends to 'raw, unripe, unfamiliar.' The modern form has simplified the sprout shape but preserves the image of new growth emerging from soil.