also: しんみょう
one's life; life and body
A formal or literary term for one's life, often used in contexts of sacrifice, devotion, or existential risk. Not an everyday word; 命 (いのち) is the common equivalent.
He gave his life for his country.
Pursue the truth at the risk of one's life.
Standard kanji spelling; the reading しんめい is more common than しんみょう.
Alternate reading; less common and may be considered archaic or literary.
Compound of 身 (body, oneself) and 命 (life). The reading しんみょう is a result of rendaku (voicing) on the second character, but しんめい is the more standard reading.