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此生 (cǐ shēng) — this life, this lifetime

Definition

Literary noun meaning 'this life / this lifetime,' used in reflective or solemn writing. Pairs with 一生 as a more poetic alternative; 今生 is the common spoken/religious counterpart (esp. Buddhist contexts).

noun
this lifethis lifetime

Examples

  • 此生，。
    cǐ shēng Néng gòu yù jiàn nǐ, shì wǒ de xìng yùn.
    Meeting you in this life is my fortune.
  • 此生。
    Tā fā yuàn yòng cǐ shēng shǒu hù zhè piàn tǔ dì.
    He vowed to protect this land for the rest of this life.
  • 此生，。
    cǐ shēng Duǎn zàn, yīng dāng zhēn xī měi yì tiān.
    This life is short; one should cherish every day.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

此cǐthis
生shēnglife

This life: 此 points to the present, 生 means life.

Characters in this word

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

此 shows 止 (feet) and 人 (person), drawing a person stopping, to mean 'this' or 'here.'

Open 此 →

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 →
Appears in
Time (Abstract)

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