Definition
一生 (yī shēng) means 'one's whole life' from birth to death, used as a noun (e.g. 我的一生). It is more neutral than the colloquial 一辈子 (yī bèi zi, HSK6) and less formal than 终身 (zhōng shēn, HSK6) or 终生 (zhōng shēng, HSK7), which often appear in fixed expressions or formal writing.
noun
one's whole lifelifetime
Easily confused
- 医生yī shēngsound-alikedoctor
Examples
- 一生。Tā yī shēng dōu zài wèi jiātíng nǔlì gōngzuò.He has been working hard for his family all his life.
- 一生。Zhè shì tā yī shēng zhōng zuì kuàilè de yì tiān.This is the happiest day of her life.
- 一生？Nǐ yī shēng zuì xiǎng gǎnxiè de rén shì shuí?Who is the person you want to thank most in your life?
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