复活 (fù huó) literally combines 复 (fù), meaning 'again' or 'to repeat', and 活 (huó), meaning 'to live' or 'alive'. Together, they express the idea of returning to life after death or dormancy — whether literally, as in biological resurrection, or figuratively, as in the revival of something long inactive. It carries a strong, often dramatic or solemn connotation, frequently used in religious, literary, scientific, or metaphorical contexts.

The term is common in discussions about extinct species being brought back via biotechnology (e.g., de-extinction projects), ancient traditions revived in modern society, or even nostalgic cultural phenomena making a comeback. While it can describe natural renewal (e.g., seeds germinating after winter), it more often implies an extraordinary, intentional, or miraculous return — distinguishing it from ordinary words like 苏醒 (sūxǐng, 'to wake up') or 恢复 (huīfù, 'to recover').