人生在世 (rén shēng zài shì) — (set phrase) in one's life; as one lives in this world (used as an introductory phrase for life observations)

Definition

A set phrase used to open a reflection on life, like 'in one's life' or 'as one lives in this world.' It always comes at the start of a sentence, not as a stand-alone answer.

idiom
(set phrase) in one's lifeas one lives in this world (used as an introductory phrase for life observations)

Examples

  • 人生在世，。
    rén shēng zài shì, Nán miǎn huì yù dào gè zhǒng kùn nan.
    In life, it's inevitable to encounter all kinds of difficulties.
  • 人生在世，，。
    rén shēng zài shì, Zuì zhòng yào de bú shì jīn qián, ér shì jiàn kāng.
    In life, the most important thing is not money but health.
  • 人生在世，？
    rén shēng zài shì, Shuí bù xiǎng guò dé hǎo yì diǎn ne?
    In life, who wouldn't want to live a little better?

Origin

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The shape of 人 shows a side view of a standing person, with an arm and a leg.

Open 人 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

生 shows 屮 (a bud) above 一 (the ground), drawing a sprout coming up from the earth.

Open 生 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

The early form of 在 used 才 for its sound; a second sound part 士 was added later, and that 士 became the 土 seen in 在.

Open 在 →

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 世 →

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