Living and lively movement with 活
活 means to live or to be lively. In compounds, it often refers to daily life, activity, revival, practical use, or vigor.
Etymology
This kanji is a phono-semantic compound built from 氵 (water) and 舌 as the sound-bearing element. The water portion gives meanings of living motion and vitality.
Activity
活動 (Activity)
活動 means activity or organized action toward a purpose.
It combines 活 (lively) with 動 (move) to show lively movement.

Sakurako forces Takeru to join the shogi club. When he suggests she join as well, she refuses and tells him not to go either, or else he’ll be in the way there.
- タケル:
- 「乗
( り気( じゃなかったが入部( した以上( はしっかり活動( する!」- “I wasn't enthusiastic, but now that I'm in the club, I'll work hard!”
- 「それが男
( ってもんだ!!」- “That's what it means to be a man!!”
- “I wasn't enthusiastic, but now that I'm in the club, I'll work hard!”
部活 (Club activities)
部活
It combines 部 (club) with 活 (activity) to show the activities of a club.

Aru returns to her classroom after club. Expecting the classroom to be empty, she’s singing a song about herself as she enters the room. There, she finds her friends idling away the time.
- アル:
- 「なな 何
( で皆( いんのよ!(誰( もいないと思( ってた!)」- “Wh- why is it that you all are here?! (I was thinking no one was here!)”
- なこ:
- 「(なんだ今
( の歌( …)」- “(What was with that song just now...)”
- ソトカ:
- 「師匠
( がアルを待( つって」- “Master said she'd wait for you.”
- アル:
- 「でも私
( 部活( あるわよ」- “But I'm in a club!”
Life
生活 (Daily life)
生活
It combines 生 (live) with 活 (be active) to show active living.

Shun asks Ayumu to continue switching places with him, since pretending to be Ayumu helps him be more open. Ayumu is game, but this requires Shun to go without his glasses, so Ayumu suggests he get contact lenses. Shun asks, “Contacts?”
- 歩
( : - 「そう!眼
( 悪( いんでしょ?」- “That's right! You have bad eyesight, don't you?”
- 駿
( : - 「0.6くらいだから裸眼
( だときりぎり生活( できるくらいかな…」- “My vision's about 0.6, so without glasses, I can just barely get by in daily life...”