命运

• Pinyin: mìng yùn
• Hanzi breakdown: 命 = 口 (mouth) + 令 (order), meaning life or decree; 运 = 辶 (movement) + 军 (army), meaning to transport or luck

Meaning

Fate; destiny. The course of events in a person's life, often seen as beyond one's control.

Used to talk about the overall trajectory of one's life, both in philosophical and everyday conversation. Can carry either a sense of helplessness (命运不公 = fate is unfair) or empowerment (改变命运 = change one's destiny). Common in literature, storytelling, and motivational speech.

Examples

1. 他不相信命运，觉得一切靠自己。 He doesn't believe in fate and thinks everything depends on himself.
2. 这本小说讲的是一个普通人改变命运的故事。 This novel tells the story of an ordinary person changing their destiny.
3. 有些人觉得命运是注定的，有些人不这样想。 Some people think fate is predetermined, while others disagree.

Usage Guide

Context: philosophy, literature, daily life

Tone: reflective

Do Say

• 他通过努力改变了自己的命运。(He changed his own destiny through hard work.)
• 命运有时候很难说。(Fate is sometimes hard to predict.)

Don't Say

• 今天的命运不好，下雨了。(Don't use 命运 for minor daily events like weather — use 运气 for luck in small matters. 命运 refers to life-defining fate.)

Origin & History

命 means life or order (from a mouth giving commands); 运 means movement or luck (辶 movement + 军 army). Together they suggest the movement or course of one's life.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal