辈子 (bèi zi) — a lifetime; the whole of one's life; (in rhetorical questions or exaggerations) an extremely long time; forever
Definition
Used almost only after 半, 一, 这, 那, 哪 to mean 'one's whole life' or, in rhetorical questions, 'forever'. 辈子 itself is not a standalone noun — it always rides on a preceding classifier/quantifier.
noun
a lifetimethe whole of one's life(in rhetorical questions or exaggerations) an extremely long timeforever
Examples
- 辈子。Tā zhè bèi zi jīng lì le hěn duō kùn nan.He experienced many difficulties in his lifetime.
- 。Tā huā le bàn bèi zi shí jiān xué xí hàn yǔ.He spent half his life learning Chinese.
- 辈子？Děng dào nǎ bèi zi cái néng jiàn miàn a?When will we ever meet?
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