Meaning of 命运
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- fate; destiny
How to use 命运
命运 is a fairly serious, literary-sounding noun used when talking about the big direction of a life, a country, or a group. It often appears with verbs like 改变 (gǎibiàn, to change) or 掌握 (zhǎngwò, to take control of). Example: 我想改变自己的命运。(Wǒ xiǎng gǎibiàn zìjǐ de mìngyùn.) I want to change my own fate.
命 (mìng) means life, as in 生命 (shēngmìng), and 运 (yùn) means movement or luck, as in 运气 (yùnqi). The way your life moves along is your 命运, your fate.
Common mistake: Learners often use 命运 for everyday luck, like winning a game, but that is 运气 (yùnqi) or 幸运 (xìngyùn). Also keep both tones falling: mìngyùn is fourth tone plus fourth tone.
命运 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.
命 mìng · life · 8 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
运 yùn · to move · 7 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
Related words
Words that share a character with 命运.
| 运动 | yùndòng | to move; to exercise |
| 生命 | shēngmìng | life (as the characteristic of living beings); living being; creature (CL:條|条[tiao2]) |
| 幸运 | xìngyùn | fortunate; lucky; good fortune; luck |
| 运输 | yùnshū | to transport; to carry |
| 运气 | yùnqi | luck (good or bad) |
| 运动员 | yùndòngyuán | athlete |
| 运用 | yùnyòng | to use; to put to use |
| 运动会 | yùndònghuì | sports competition |
| 亚运会 | Yàyùnhuì | Asian Games |
| 命令 | mìnglìng | order; command |
| 好运 | hǎoyùn | good luck |
| 运行 | yùnxíng | (of celestial bodies etc) to move along one's course; (fig.) to function; to be in operati |
Questions about 命运
What does 命运 mean?
命运 (mìngyùn) means "fate; destiny" and is used as a noun.
How do you write 命运?
命运 is made of 2 characters: 命 (8 strokes), 运 (7 strokes). That is 15 strokes in total.
Is 命运 an HSK word?
Yes. 命运 is on the HSK 3 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
How is 命运 written in traditional Chinese?
In traditional characters, 命运 is written 命運.
What is the difference between 命运 and 运气?
命运 is your overall fate or destiny across a lifetime. 运气 is luck in a particular situation, good or bad. You say 今天运气很好 (jīntiān yùnqi hěn hǎo) for a lucky day, not 今天命运很好.
Can 命运 be used for things other than people?
Yes. It is common with countries, companies, and groups, for example 国家的命运 (guójiā de mìngyùn), the fate of the nation. It works for anything whose future seems shaped by larger forces.