身世 (shēn shì) — one's life experience, personal background, or lot in life (often emphasizing unusual or pitiable circumstances)

Definition

Examples

• 他的身世非常坎坷。
  Tā de shēn shì fēi cháng kǎn kě.
  His life experience has been very rough.
• 那部电影讲述了一个女人的身世故事。
  Nà bù diàn yǐng jiǎng shù le yí gè nǚ rén de shēn shì gù shi.
  That movie tells the story of a woman's life background.
• 没有人知道他的真正身世。
  Méi yǒu rén zhī dào tā de zhēn zhèng shēn shì.
  No one knows his true background.

Origin