一生
Meanings
noun, noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no', adverb
whole life; lifetime; all one's life
Refers to the entire span of a person's life, often used adverbially to mean 'for life' or 'throughout one's life'.
He devoted his whole life to research.
It's a memory I'll never forget for the rest of my life.
noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no'
of one's life; the ... of one's life
Used as a no-adjective to modify a noun, expressing that something is the most significant, greatest, or only instance in one's life. Common in phrases like 一生の思い出, 一生の不覚, 一生のお願い.
This is a treasure of a lifetime.
It's the request of a lifetime, so please listen.
Usage patterns
- 一生を〈動詞〉to spend one's entire life doing something
He devoted his whole life to research.
- 〈事〉を一生忘れないto never forget something for one's entire life
I will never forget the emotion of that day as long as I live.
- 〈人〉と一生添い遂げるto stay together with someone for the rest of one's life
The two of them promised to stay together for the rest of their lives.
Expressions· 9
- 一生精進lifelong devotion to ascetic practice
- 一生に一度once in a lifetime
- 一生の不覚greatest mistake of one's life
- 九死に一生narrow escape from death; barely escaping with one's life
- 一生を終えるend one's life; pass away; die
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- 正直は一生の宝honesty is the best policy
- 九死に一生を得るhave a narrow escape from death
- 聞くは一時の恥、聞かぬは一生の恥better to ask and be embarrassed than not ask and never know