生老病死 (shēng lǎo bìng sǐ) — the four inevitable stages of life: birth, aging, illness, and death; the cycle of human suffering
Definition
A set phrase for the four unavoidable stages of every human life: birth, aging, illness, and death. Used to talk about life's inevitable suffering or as a thematic subject in art and philosophy.
idiom
the four inevitable stages of life: birthagingillnessand deaththe cycle of human suffering
Examples
- 生老病死。shēng lǎo bìng sǐ Shì měi gè rén dōu wú fǎ bì miǎn de.Birth, aging, illness, and death are unavoidable for everyone.
- 生老病死。Zhè bù diàn yǐng shēn kè dì tàn tǎo le shēng lǎo bìng sǐ de zhǔ tí.This film deeply explores the theme of the four stages of life.
- 生老病死,。Miàn duì shēng lǎo bìng sǐ, tā biǎo xiàn dé fēi cháng tǎn rán.Facing birth, aging, illness, and death, he acted very calmly.
Appears in
Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.