Life in Chinese
The Chinese word for life is 生命 (shēng mìng). Life itself, in the deepest sense.
shēng mìng
Life
What 生命 means.
生 means to be born, to grow and to live, and 命 means life and fate. Together 生命 is life itself, the life of a living being.
- 生
- life, to live
- 命
- life, fate
Simplified and traditional
生命
生命
生命 is written the same way in simplified and traditional Chinese, so every Chinese reader recognises it.
About life in Chinese
How do you write life in Chinese?
Life is 生命 in Chinese, pronounced shēng mìng. Life 生 means “life, to live”, 命 means “life, fate”.
How do you pronounce 生命?
Say shēng (first tone, high and level), mìng (fourth tone, falling). Mandarin tones change meaning, so it is worth listening to a native speaker once.
Is 生命 different in traditional Chinese?
No. 生命 is written the same way in simplified and traditional Chinese.
Is 生命 a good Chinese tattoo?
Yes, it is a real, everyday Chinese word rather than a machine translation, so Chinese readers will understand it. Keep the characters in their order, top to bottom or left to right, and never mirrored. Choose a readable style such as Kaishu, bring a clean reference to your artist, and show it to a fluent reader before your appointment.