天命 (tiān mìng) — (noun) the mandate of heaven (political theory justifying a ruler's authority); (noun) destiny, fate; (noun) one's natural lifespan

Definition

Examples

• 古代帝王常以天命来证明自己的统治合法。
  Gǔ dài dì wáng cháng yǐ tiān mìng lái zhèng míng zì jǐ de tǒng zhì hé fǎ.
  Ancient emperors often used the mandate of heaven to justify their rule as legitimate.
• 他觉得自己的人生是天命安排好的，无法改变。
  Tā jué de zì jǐ de rén shēng shì tiān mìng ān pái hǎo de, wú fǎ gǎi biàn.
  He feels his life is arranged by fate and cannot be changed.
• 老人说自己的天命已尽，该去陪老伴了。
  Lǎo rén shuō zì jǐ de tiān mìng yǐ jìn, gāi qù péi lǎo bàn le.
  The old man said his allotted lifespan was over and it was time to join his spouse.

Origin