Translation and Meaning of: 人生 - jinsei

If you are learning Japanese or just curious about the language, you may have come across the word 人生 (じんせい). It appears in conversations, songs, books, and even in animes, carrying a profound meaning that goes beyond a simple translation. In this article, we will explore what this word represents, how it is used in everyday Japanese, and why it is so relevant in the culture of the country. Additionally, we will see tips for memorizing it and understanding its context in common sentences.

The meaning and origin of 人生

The word 人生 (じんせい) is composed of two kanjis: 人 (person) and 生 (life). Together, they form the concept of "human life" or "existence." Unlike just 生命 (せいめい), which refers to biological life, 人生 encompasses the personal journey, experiences, and the path each individual takes. This distinction is important for understanding why it appears so often in philosophical and artistic discussions in Japan.

The origin of the term dates back to classical Chinese, but it was incorporated into Japanese with a more introspective meaning. While in other languages the word "life" can be generic, the Japanese use 人生 to specifically refer to individual journeys, including challenges, learnings, and significant moments. This nuance makes all the difference when reading or hearing the word in real contexts.

How 人生 is used in everyday Japanese

In daily life, Japanese people use 人生 in phrases that express reflection or advice. Expressions like 人生は一度きり (life only happens once) and 人生の岐路 (a turning point in life) are common and show how the term is related to important decisions. It is also frequently used in motivational speeches, where the emphasis is on making the most of the available time.

Another interesting use is in combination with other kanjis, such as 人生観 (じんせいかん), which means "view of life." This flexibility allows the word to appear in various contexts, from informal conversations to literary texts. If you watch dramas or read manga, you've probably seen it in exciting dialogues or in moments of great narrative impact.

Tips for memorizing and using 人生 correctly

An effective way to remember 人生 is to associate it with abstract ideas like "journey" or "personal story." This helps differentiate it from other words like 生活 (せいかつ), which refers to everyday lifestyle. A practical tip is to create flashcards with phrases like 人生で大切なこと (what is important in life) to practice its use in real contexts.

Interestingly, the kanji 生 by itself already provides a valuable clue: it can also be read as "iki" (breath), reinforcing the idea that 人生 is not just about existing, but about living fully. This etymological connection facilitates memorization and deepens the cultural understanding behind the word.

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Synonyms and similar words

• 人生 (Jinsei) - Life (focusing on a person's experience and life journey)
• 一生 (Isshō) - A life (usually refers to the period of a person's life, from birth to death)
• 生涯 (Shōgai) - Career or lifetime (emphasizes the total course of life and may include achievements)
• 人道 (Jindō) - Human path (related to nature and morality of human life)
• 人間生活 (Ningen Seikatsu) - Human life (refers to the way of living of humanity and its interactions)

人生

Romaji: jinsei
Kana: じんせい
Type: noun
L: jlpt-n3

Translation / Meaning: Life (i.e. conception to death)

Meaning in English: life (i.e. conception to death)

Definition: Time and experiences from birth to death.

Example Sentences - (人生) jinsei

See below some example sentences:

愛情は人生の最高の贈り物です。

Aijou wa jinsei no saikou no okurimono desu

Love is the best gift in life.

• 愛情 (aijou) - love
• は (wa) - Topic particle
• 人生 (jinsei) - life
• の (no) - Possession particle
• 最高 (saikou) - better, maximum
• の (no) - Possession particle
• 贈り物 (okurimono) - gift, gift of offer
• です (desu) - verb to be, to stay

旅は人生の宝物です。

Tabi wa jinsei no takaramono desu

Travel is a treasure in life.

Travel is a treasure of life.

• 旅 - "viagem" em japonês significa 旅行 (りょこう, ryokou).
• は - It is a grammatical particle that indicates the topic of the sentence.
• 人生 - Means "life" in Japanese.
• の - It is a grammatical particle that indicates possession or relation.
• 宝物 - means "treasure" in Japanese.
• です - is a polite way of saying "ser" or "estar" in Japanese.

普通の人生を送りたいです。

Futsū no jinsei o okuritai desu

I want to live an ordinary life.

I want to live a normal life.

• 普通の - adjective meaning "normal"
• 人生 - substantive that means "life"
• を - Particle indicating the direct object of the sentence
• 送りたい - Verb in the desiderative form that means "want to send"
• です - auxiliary verb that indicates the polite and respectful form of the sentence

相応しい人生を送りたい。

Sōōshii jinsei o okuritai

I want to live a life that is adequate.

I want to live a proper life.

• 相応しい (sōōshii) - Adequado, apropriado
• 人生 (jinsei) - life
• を (o) - direct object particle
• 送りたい (okuritai) - want to send, wish to have

私はまだ自分の人生の方向性を模索しています。

Watashi wa mada jibun no jinsei no hōkōsei o mosaku shite imasu

I'm still looking for the direction of my life.

I'm still looking for the direction of my life.

• 私 (watashi) - Japanese personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - topic particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
• まだ (mada) - adverb meaning "yet"
• 自分 (jibun) - reflexive pronoun meaning "myself"
• の (no) - possessive particle indicating a relationship of ownership
• 人生 (jinsei) - substantive that means "life"
• の (no) - connecting particle linking "life" with "方向性"
• 方向性 (hōkōsei) - noun meaning "direction" or "orientation"
• を (wo) - object particle indicating the direct object of the sentence
• 模索しています (mosaku shiteimasu) - compound verb meaning "to search" or "to explore"

私は自分の人生を変えることができます。

Watashi wa jibun no jinsei o kaeru koto ga dekimasu

I can change my own life.

I can change my life.

• 私 (watashi) - Japanese personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - Japanese particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case, "I"
• 自分 (jibun) - Japanese reflexive pronoun that means "to oneself."
• の (no) - Japanese particle that indicates possession, in this case, "my".
• 人生 (jinsei) - 生活 (seikatsu)
• を (wo) - Japanese particle that indicates the direct object of the sentence, in this case, "vida".
• 変える (kaeru) - Japanese verb that means "to change"
• こと (koto) - Japanese noun that indicates an action or event, in this case, "to change."
• が (ga) - Japanese particle that indicates the subject of the sentence, in this case, "I"
• できます (dekimasu) - できる (dekiru)

私の人生は充実しています。

Watashi no jinsei wa juujitsu shiteimasu

My life is full of achievements.

My life is rewarding.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• の (no) - particle that indicates possession or belonging
• 人生 (jinsei) - substantive that means "life"
• は (wa) - Particle indicating the topic of the sentence
• 充実しています (juujitsu shiteimasu) - Verb "estar" means "to be" and "preenchido/satisfeito" means "filled/satisfied" in the present progressive.

私は友達に人生の重要な決定を諮る必要がある。

Watashi wa tomodachi ni jinsei no juuyou na ketsudan wo hakaru hitsuyou ga aru

I need to consult my friends about the important decisions of life.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case "I"
• 友達 (tomodachi) - noun meaning "friend"
• に (ni) - particle that indicates the target of the action, in this case "for the friend"
• 人生 (jinsei) - substantive that means "life"
• の (no) - particle that indicates possession, in this case "of life"
• 重要な (juuyouna) - Adjective meaning "important"
• 決定 (kettei) - noun that means "decision"
• を (wo) - particle that indicates the direct object of the action, in this case "the decision"
• 諮る (shiru) - verb that means "to consult"
• 必要がある (hitsuyou ga aru) - expression that means "to be necessary"

私は神様が私たちの人生を司ると信じています。

Watashi wa kamisama ga watashitachi no jinsei o tsukasadoru to shinjite imasu

I believe God will control our lives.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case, "I"
• 神様 (kamisama) - noun that means "god"
• が (ga) - particle that indicates the subject of the sentence, in this case, "god"
• 私たち (watashitachi) - personal pronoun meaning "we"
• の (no) - particle that indicates possession, in this case, "our"
• 人生 (jinsei) - substantive that means "life"
• を (wo) - particle that indicates the direct object of the sentence, in this case, "life"
• 司る (tsukasadoru) - verb that means "to govern" or "to control"
• と (to) - particle that indicates direct quotation, in this case, "that"
• 信じています (shinjiteimasu) - verb that means "to believe" or "to have faith" conjugated in the affirmative present

私たちの人生は常に変わるものです。

Watashitachi no jinsei wa tsuneni kawaru mono desu

Our life is always changing.

• 私たちの - 私たち
• 人生 - "Life" in Japanese
• は - Japanese topic particle
• 常に - Always in Japanese
• 変わる - "change" in Japanese
• もの - "thing" in Japanese
• です - The verb "to be" in Japanese in its polite form.