‘众生’ literally means ‘many beings’ — 众 (zhòng) means ‘multitude’ or ‘all’, and 生 (shēng) means ‘living being’ or ‘life’. In classical and Buddhist Chinese, it refers collectively to all sentient beings — humans, animals, ghosts, deities, and other conscious life forms across the six realms of existence. It carries strong philosophical and ethical weight, emphasizing interconnectedness and compassion.

The term is rarely used in everyday secular speech; instead, it appears in religious texts, moral discourse, poetry, and formal writing about ethics, ecology, or universal welfare. Unlike ordinary words for ‘people’ or ‘animals’, 众生 implies spiritual equality and moral consideration for all forms of conscious life — not just humans. It reflects a worldview where suffering, awakening, and compassion extend beyond our species.