Cool MateLife vs Living
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
| Life | Living | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | The condition of being alive; experiences and activities of living. | the act of being alive or having a life |
| CEFR level | A1 | B1 |
| Part of speech | noun | adjective |
| Usage notes | Commonly used in all contexts, 'life' is appropriate in both casual conversations and formal writing. Avoid using it in highly technical contexts where specific terms might be better. | Use 'living' when talking about life in various contexts. Avoid in formal writing where more specific terms like 'existence' might be better. |
Frequently asked questions: Life vs Living
What's the difference between "Life" and "Living"?
"Life" means: The condition of being alive; experiences and activities of living. "Living" means: the act of being alive or having a life
When should I use "Life" and "Living"?
They can all be used in everyday English.
Are "Life" and "Living" the same CEFR level?
"Life" is at A1, "Living" is at B1 on the CEFR scale.