生 (shēng)

to be born; to give birth; life; to grow; raw; uncooked; student

HSK 3.1 level 2
5 strokes

Etymology

Pictograph of a sprout (屮) emerging from the ground (一).

Shuowen Jiezi

《說文》：“生，進也。象艸木生出土上。”

Components

屮 (iconic) — Depicts a sprout growing.
一 (iconic) — Used here to depict the ground.