subsistence /sʌbˈsistəns/ n. [u] 存活，生存，维生之道：He is on the margin of bare subsistence.他正处在挨饿的边缘。Their subsistence comes from the sea.他们依赖海洋生活。She had no means of subsistence and was dependent on charity.她没什么谋生手段，只能依靠救济。