Dictionary entry
animate being
noun
生物；有生命的东西
a living being
生物
In use
In biology class, we learned that every animate being needs water to survive.
The philosopher argued that respecting every animate being is a sign of a compassionate society.
Scientists study how each animate being adapts to changes in its environment.
an animate being + verb
An animate being requires food and oxygen to survive.
生物需要食物和氧气才能生存。
verb + an animate being
Scientists study the behavior of an animate being in its natural habitat.
科学家研究生物在其自然栖息地中的行为。
as an animate being
Humans are classified as an animate being with complex consciousness.
人类被归类为具有复杂意识的生物。
Common mistakes
A tree is an animate being.A tree is a living thing.
英语中'animate being'通常指有自主运动能力的生物（如动物），而植物是无运动的，所以表示植物时应用'living thing'。
All animate beings have rights.All human beings have rights.
'animate being'涵盖所有动物，而此处意图特指人类，应用'human being'以避免歧义。
Connections
Dictionary facts from ECDICT.