Translation and Meaning of: 人生 - jinsei
If you are learning Japanese or just curious about the language, you may have come across the word 人生 (じんせい). It appears in conversations, songs, books, and even in animes, carrying a profound meaning that goes beyond a simple translation. In this article, we will explore what this word represents, how it is used in everyday Japanese, and why it is so relevant in the culture of the country. Additionally, we will see tips for memorizing it and understanding its context in common sentences.
The meaning and origin of 人生
The word 人生 (じんせい) is composed of two kanjis: 人 (person) and 生 (life). Together, they form the concept of "human life" or "existence." Unlike just 生命 (せいめい), which refers to biological life, 人生 encomes the personal journey, experiences, and the path each individual takes. This distinction is important for understanding why it appears so often in philosophical and artistic discussions in Japan.
The origin of the term dates back to classical Chinese, but it was incorporated into Japanese with a more introspective meaning. While in other languages the word "life" can be generic, the Japanese use 人生 to specifically refer to individual journeys, including challenges, learnings, and significant moments. This nuance makes all the difference when reading or hearing the word in real contexts.
How 人生 is used in everyday Japanese
In daily life, Japanese people use 人生 in phrases that express reflection or advice. Expressions like 人生は一度きり (life only happens once) and 人生の岐路 (a turning point in life) are common and show how the term is related to important decisions. It is also frequently used in motivational speeches, where the emphasis is on making the most of the available time.
Another interesting use is in combination with other kanjis, such as 人生観 (じんせいかん), which means "view of life." This flexibility allows the word to appear in various contexts, from informal conversations to literary texts. If you watch dramas or read manga, you've probably seen it in exciting dialogues or in moments of great narrative impact.
Tips for memorizing and using 人生 correctly
An effective way to 人生 is to associate it with abstract ideas like "journey" or "personal story." This helps differentiate it from other words like 生活 (せいかつ), which refers to everyday lifestyle. A practical tip is to create flashcards with phrases like 人生で大切なこと (what is important in life) to practice its use in real contexts.
Interestingly, the kanji 生 by itself already provides a valuable clue: it can also be read as "iki" (breath), reinforcing the idea that 人生 is not just about existing, but about living fully. This etymological connection facilitates memorization and deepens the cultural understanding behind the word.
Vocabulary
Expand your vocabulary with related words:
Synonyms and similar words
- 人生 (Jinsei) - Life (focusing on a person's experience and life journey)
- 一生 (Isshō) - A life (usually refers to the period of a person's life, from birth to death)
- 生涯 (Shōgai) - Career or lifetime (emphasizes the total course of life and may include achievements)
- 人道 (Jindō) - Human path (related to nature and morality of human life)
- 人間生活 (Ningen Seikatsu) - Human life (refers to the way of living of humanity and its interactions)
Related words
Romaji: jinsei
Kana: じんせい
Type: noun
L: jlpt-n3
Translation / Meaning: Life (i.e. conception to death)
Meaning in English: life (i.e. conception to death)
Definition: Time and experiences from birth to death.
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How to Write in Japanese - (人生) jinsei
See below a step-by-step guide on how to write the word by hand in Japanese. (人生) jinsei:
Example Sentences - (人生) jinsei
See below some example sentences:
Shiawase wa jinsei no saikou no mokuteki desu
Happiness is the ultimate goal of life.
Happiness is the best purpose of life.
- 幸せ - happiness
- は - Topic particle
- 人生 - life
- の - Possession particle
- 最高 - the best
- の - Possession particle
- 目的 - objective
- です - Verb to be/estar in the present
Kibou wa jinsei no enerugii desu
Hope is the energy of life.
Hope is the energy of life.
- 希望 (kibou) - hope
- は (wa) - Topic particle
- 人生 (jinsei) - life
- の (no) - Possession particle
- エネルギー (enerugii) - energy
- です (desu) - Verb to be/estar in the present
Gakureki wa jinsei o kimeru wake de wa nai
Academics do not determine life.
Educational formation does not determine life.
- 学歴 - means "school report" or "academic formation".
- は - topic particle that indicates that the subject of the sentence is "学歴".
- 人生 - means "human life."
- を - object particle that indicates that "人生" is the direct object of the sentence.
- 決める - verb that means "to decide" or "to determine".
- わけ - noun that means "reason" or "motive".
- ではない - negative expression that means "it isn't."
Tetsugaku wa jinsei no imi o tankyū suru gakumon desu
Philosophy is the study that seeks the meaning of life.
Philosophy is a study that explores the meaning of life.
- 哲学 - philosophy
- は - Topic particle
- 人生 - human life
- の - Possession particle
- 意味 - Meaning
- を - direct object particle
- 探求する - investigate, explore
- 学問 - academic discipline
- です - Verb to be/estar in the present
Yorokobi wa jinsei no subarashii shunkan desu
Happiness is a wonderful moment in life.
Joy is a wonderful moment in life.
- 喜び - joy
- は - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
- 人生 - life
- の - Particle that indicates possession
- 素晴らしい - amazing
- 瞬間 - time
- です - Verb to be/estar in the present
Chikara wa jinsei de juuyou na youso desu
Strength is an important element in life.
Power is an important factor in life.
- 力 (chikara) - strength, power
- は (wa) - grammatical particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
- 人生 (jinsei) - human life
- で (de) - grammatical particle that indicates the means or place where something happens
- 重要 (juuyou) - important
- な (na) - grammatical particle that indicates the adjectivization of a noun
- 要素 (yousou) - element, component
- です (desu) - verb to be in the polite form
Shinkou wa jinsei no sasae desu
Faith is the of life.
Faith is the of life.
- 信仰 - belief, faith
- は - Topic particle
- 人生 - human life
- の - Possession particle
- 支え -
- です - verb to be in the polite form
Shugyou wa jinsei wo yutaka ni suru
Ascetic practice enriches life.
Training enriches life.
- 修行 - practice, training, discipline
- は - grammatical particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
- 人生 - human life
- を - grammatical particle that indicates the direct object of the sentence
- 豊か - rich, abundant, prosperous
- に - grammatical particle that indicates transformation or change of state
- する - do, carry out, practice
Jūtaku wa watashitachi no jinsei no naka de mottomo ōkina kaimono no hitotsu desu
A house is one of the biggest purchases in our lives.
Housing is one of the biggest purchases in our lives.
- 住宅 (juutaku) - house, residence
- は (wa) - Topic particle
- 私たち (watashitachi) - we, our
- の (no) - Possession particle
- 人生 (jinsei) - life
- の中で (no naka de) - Inside of
- 最も (mottomo) - the most, the most important
- 大きな (ookina) - large
- 買い物 (kaimono) - purchase, purchase of goods
- の (no) - Possession particle
- 一つ (hitotsu) - one of the
- です (desu) - verb to be, to stay
Jinsei wa itsuka taeru
Life one day ends.
Life will end someday.
- 人生 (jinsei) - Life
- は (wa) - Topic particle
- いつか (itsuka) - someday
- 絶える (taeru) - finish, end
Other Words of this Type: noun
See other words from our dictionary that are also: noun
