1N-UNCOUNT [oft NOUN n]勉强维持生活;生存;存活Subsistence is the condition of just having enough food or money to stay alive. 勉强维持生活;生存;存活
...below the subsistence level.
低于最低生活水平
The standard of living today is on the edge of subsistence.
现在的生活水平几乎快要无法维持生计。
2ADJ [ADJ n](农业或农业生产)收成仅够自身口粮的 In subsistence farming or subsistence agriculture, farmers produce food to eat themselves rather than to sell. (农业或农业生产)收成仅够自身口粮的
Many black Namibians are subsistence farmers who live in the arid borderlands.