Meaning of 一生
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- all one's life; throughout one's life
How to use 一生
一生 is used for things that last or matter across a whole life, often in slightly serious or emotional speech. It often appears with 中 or as a time phrase before a verb. Example: 这是我一生中最快乐的一天。(Zhè shì wǒ yīshēng zhōng zuì kuàilè de yī tiān.) This is the happiest day of my life.
一 (yī) means one, and 生 (shēng) means life or to be born. One life from birth to the end is 一生, your whole lifetime.
Common mistake: Learners confuse 一生 (yīshēng) with 医生 (yīshēng) because they sound exactly the same. Context tells you which one: 医生 is a doctor, while 一生 is a lifetime.
一生 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
一 yī · one · 1 strokes
- 1
生 shēng · to grow · 5 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
Related words
Words that share a character with 一生.
| 先生 | xiānsheng | teacher; gentleman; sir; mister (Mr.) |
| 一起 | yīqǐ | (in) the same place; together; in company (with) |
| 一样 | yīyàng | same; like |
| 一些 | yīxiē | some; a few; a little; (following an adjective) slightly ...er |
| 医生 | yīshēng | doctor; medical practitioner |
| 生气 | shēngqì | to get angry; to be furious; vitality; liveliness |
| 学生 | xuéshēng | student; schoolchild |
| 一会儿 | yīhuìr | a moment; a while |
| 生日 | shēngrì | birthday |
| 一半 | yībàn | half |
| 一边 | yībiān | one side; either side |
| 生病 | shēngbìng | to fall ill |
Questions about 一生
What does 一生 mean?
一生 (yīshēng) means "all one's life; throughout one's life" and is used as a noun.
How do you write 一生?
一生 is made of 2 characters: 一 (1 strokes), 生 (5 strokes). That is 6 strokes in total.
Is 一生 an HSK word?
Yes. 一生 is on the HSK 2 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
What is the difference between 一生 and 一辈子?
Both mean all one's life. 一辈子 (yībèizi) is more casual and common in speech, while 一生 sounds a bit more formal or literary.
Does the tone of 一 change in 一生?
No. 生 is a first tone, and 一 stays first tone before a first-tone syllable, so it is yīshēng. The tone of 一 changes only before fourth tones and some other tones, as in 一样 (yíyàng).