人生

• Reading: じんせい
• Romaji: jinsei
• Kanji breakdown: 人 (jin) — person, human; 生 (sei) — life, birth
• Pronunciation: /dʑiɴ.seː/

Meaning

Human life; one's life from birth to death. The course and experiences of living.

A noun referring to life as a whole journey from conception to death, encompassing all experiences and choices. Different from 生活 (daily life/lifestyle) and 命 (life as in being alive). Often used in reflective or philosophical statements. Common in expressions like 人生は一度きり (you only live once) and 人生経験 (life experience).

Examples

1. 人生で一番楽しかった思い出は何ですか。 What is the most fun memory of your life?
2. 彼女は波乱万丈な人生を送ってきた。 She has lived a turbulent life.
3. 人生は短いから後悔しないように生きたい。 Life is short, so I want to live without regrets.

Usage Guide

Context: philosophy, daily conversation, motivation

Tone: reflective

Origin & History

Composed of 人 (person, human) and 生 (life, birth, living). A direct combination meaning 'human life,' emphasising the full span of a person's existence.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal