jan4 sang1人生
Jyutpingjan4 sang1
Yaleyàhn sāng
Definition
Life; a human being's lifespan.
neutralpeopledescriptions
How it's used
Refers to the entire span of a person's existence rather than just the daily experience of living. It carries a philosophical or reflective tone, often appearing in discussions about personal goals, regrets, or the meaning of existence. While it can be used in casual conversation, it is slightly more formal than simply talking about 生活.
Measure word
dyun6段dyunhExamples
Life is only a few decades long, being happy is what matters most.
How do you define a successful life?
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 生活, which refers to one's daily lifestyle or livelihood. Using 人生 to describe your current daily routine or how you make a living will sound unnatural and overly dramatic.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- LocationHow to say where something is using 喺 (hai2), place words like 度, and the common coverbs that work like English prepositions.
- Serial verbsStringing two or more verbs together without any joining word, like go to the shop buy things. Extremely common in Cantonese.
- 將 disposalHow to move the object in front of the verb with 將, to focus on what happens to it. Common in instructions and writing.
