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

安定

antei

stability; balance

新しい

atarashii

new

商人

akiudo

trader; merchant; retailer

waga

my; our

身の上

minoue

someone's future; the good -to be from someone; someone's personal story

惨め

mijime

miserable

悲劇

higeki

tragedy

望み

nozomi

wish

多忙

tabou

busy; work pressure

生涯

shougai

one's life (i.e. existence until death)

人生

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.

Quick Access
- Vocabulary
- Writing
- Sentences

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:

人生は時に分かれる道を選ばなければならない。

Jinsei wa toki ni wakareru michi o erabanakereba naranai

Sometimes in life

Life must choose a path sometimes divided.

  • 人生 (jinsei) - Life
  • は (wa) - Topic particle
  • 時に (toki ni) - Sometimes
  • 分かれる (wakareru) - divide
  • 道 (michi) - Path
  • を (wo) - object particle
  • 選ばなければならない (erabanakereba naranai) - You must choose
人生は果てることのない旅路です。

Jinsei wa hateru koto no nai tabiji desu

Life is an endless journey.

Life is an endless journey.

  • 人生 (jinsei) - Life
  • は (wa) - Topic particle
  • 果てる (hateru) - finish, end
  • こと (koto) - Thing, fact
  • の (no) - Possessive particle
  • ない (nai) - Negative
  • 旅路 (tabiji) - Journey, trip
  • です (desu) - polite way of being
人生は予期せぬ方向に転じることがある。

Jinsei wa yokisenu houkou ni tenjiru koto ga aru

Life can change direction unexpectedly.

Life can turn in an unexpected direction.

  • 人生 - Life
  • は - Topic particle
  • 予期せぬ - Inesperado
  • 方向 - Direction
  • に - Destination particle
  • 転じる - change
  • こと - Abstract noun
  • が - Subject particle
  • ある - exist
一瞬の出来事が人生を変えることもある。

Isshun no dekigoto ga jinsei wo kaeru koto mo aru

A momentary event can also change someone's life.

A momentary event can change life.

  • 一瞬 - means "an instant" or "a moment".
  • の - Title that indicates possession or expiration.
  • 出来事 - means "happening" or "event".
  • が - Particle that indicates the subject of the sentence.
  • 人生 - means "human life" or "existence".
  • を - particle that indicates the direct object of the sentence.
  • 変える - means "to change" or "to transform".
  • こと - abstract noun that indicates an action or event.
  • も - particle indicating inclusion or addition.
  • ある - verb that indicates the existence or presence of something.
ある人生は一度きりです。

Aru jinsei wa ichido kiri desu

The life we have is unique.

A life is only lived once.

  • ある (aru) - means "to exist" or "to have"
  • 人生 (jinsei) - means "human life"
  • は (wa) - grammatical particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
  • 一度 (ichido) - "once"
  • きり (kiri) - means "only" or "just"
  • です (desu) - Verb "to be" in the present tense
ユーモアは人生を楽しくする力です。

Yūmō wa jinsei o tanoshiku suru chikara desu

Humor is the power to make life fun.

  • ユーモア - 言葉は「ユーモア」です。
  • は - Japanese particle indicating the subject of the sentence
  • 人生 - A palavra em japonês que significa "vida" é "生命" (seimei).
  • を - Direct object particle in Japanese.
  • 楽しくする - 動かす (ugokasu)
  • 力 - A palavra em japonês que significa "força" ou "poder" é 力 (chikara).
  • です - verb in Japanese that indicates the polite form of the present
不自由な人生を送るのは辛いです。

Fujuyuu na jinsei wo okuru no wa tsurai desu

It is painful to live a crucial life.

  • 不自由な - adjective that means "not free," "restricted"
  • 人生 - substantive that means "life"
  • を - Particle indicating the direct object of the sentence
  • 送る - verb that means "to send"
  • の - particle that indicates a nominal phrase
  • は - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
  • 辛い - adjective that means "difficult," "painful"
  • です - auxiliary verb that indicates the polite and respectful form of the sentence
両極に振り切れる人生を送りたい。

Ryōkyoku ni furikireru jinsei o okuritai

I want to live a life that can be shaken from both poles.

  • 両極 (ryoukyoku) - means "two extremes" or "opposites"
  • に (ni) - a particle indicating the direction or target of the action
  • 振り切れる (furikireru) - a verb meaning "to go beyond the limits" or "to go beyond the limits"
  • 人生 (jinsei) - means "life"
  • を (wo) - a particle that indicates the direct object of the action
  • 送りたい (okuritai) - a verb meaning "to want to send" or "to want to live"
人生を導く道は自分で決めるものだ。

Jinsei wo michibiku michi wa jibun de kimeru mono da

The way to lead life is to decide on your own.

  • 人生 - Life
  • を - object particle
  • 導く - Guide
  • 道 - Path
  • は - Topic particle
  • 自分 - Yourself
  • で - Location particle
  • 決める - Decide
  • もの - Thing
  • だ - Completion particle
体験は人生の宝物です。

Taiken wa jinsei no takaramono desu

Experiences are treasures of life.

Experience is a treasure of life.

  • 体験 (taiken) - experience
  • は (wa) - Topic particle
  • 人生 (jinsei) - life
  • の (no) - Possessive particle
  • 宝物 (takaramono) - treasure
  • です (desu) - Verb to be/estar in the present

Other Words of this Type: noun

See other words from our dictionary that are also: noun

人生