生平

shēngpíng

life (a person's whole life)

HSK 7

한자 분해

Meaning and Usage

"生平" (shēngpíng) refers to a person's entire life or lifetime, often used in formal or literary contexts to describe someone's biography or life story. It emphasizes the span of a person's existence and the events within it.

Common Contexts

It is frequently used in biographies, obituaries, historical texts, and formal discussions about a person's life achievements or character.

Collocations and Patterns

  • 生平事迹: life deeds or achievements, used when recounting notable events in someone's life.
  • 一生平凡: an ordinary life, describing a life without extraordinary events.
  • 了解生平: to understand someone's life, often used when studying a person's background.

Usage Notes

"生平" is more formal and literary than simply saying "生活" (life) or "人生" (human life). It is not used for daily life activities but rather for summarizing or reflecting on a person's life as a whole. Avoid confusing it with "," which can mean "usually" or "habitually."

예문

这本书详细记载了他的生平事迹。

Zhè běn shū xiángxì jìzǎi le tā de shēngpíng shìjì.

This book records his life story in detail.

他一生平凡,但为人正直。

Tā yīshēng píngfán, dàn wéirén zhèngzhí.

He lived an ordinary life but was an honest person.

了解一个人的生平,有助于理解他的作品。

Liǎojiě yīgè rén de shēngpíng, yǒuzhù yú lǐjiě tā de zuòpǐn.

Knowing a person's life helps to understand their works.