Used in compounds and fixed expressions, not as a standalone noun. Common in words like 生活 (life, living) and 活動 (activity).
The kanji 活 is used in words related to living, such as 生活 (life) and 活動 (activity).
judo resuscitation technique
Specialized term in judo for revival techniques. Appears in the phrase 活を入れる (to apply resuscitation).
See also: 活を入れる
In judo, they revive an unconscious athlete by applying katsu (resuscitation).
生活 is the standalone noun meaning 'life/living', whereas 活 in this sense only appears bound inside compounds such as 生活 itself.
喝 (かつ) is a sharp shout or scolding cry, easily confused with 活 (かつ) meaning life/activity because they share the same reading but differ completely in meaning.
life; living; daily life · livelihood; making a living
revival; restoration; comeback · resurrection; rebirth
practical use; application; making good use of · conjugation; inflection
activity; chemical activity · active; chemically active
lively; active; vigorous
club activities; extracurricular activities
job hunting; job searching
private life; personal life
vitality; energy; dynamism
The kanji 活 originally means 'to live' or 'vitality'. The suffix use is a modern abbreviation of 活動 (activity).
energy; vigor; liveliness; spirit
printing type; movable type · printed word; print
cheerful; lively; lighthearted
life and death; life or death · life and death (of a group of stones in Go)
action film; action movie; action drama · riotous scene; fight scene
way out; means of survival; escape route
trying to conceive; fertility efforts
brisk activity; prosperity; liveliness
active volcano
self-support; supporting oneself; making one's own living
printing form; forme · letterpress printing; movable-type printing
activated carbon; activated charcoal
activation; invigoration; stimulation
vivid description; lively depiction
live fish and shellfish (kept in a tank in a restaurant)
taking root; establishing (of a plant) · settling down; staying put
activity; action; operation · moving picture (obs. abbr.)
active role; energetic activity; great efforts · walking about vigorously
active; dynamic; energetic
compensated dating; sugar daddy dating
kindergarten hunting; preschool search