身しん命めい

also: しんみょう

し

ん

め

い

Freq.FrequencyTop 100,000

Meanings

noun

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.

彼かれは国くにのために身しん命めいを捧ささげた。
He gave his life for his country.
身しん命めいを賭として真しん実じつを追おい求もとめる。
Pursue the truth at the risk of one's life.

See all 3 example sentences ›

Kanji

身somebody, person, one's station in life
命fate, command, decree

Related words

命いのち
The common, everyday word for 'life'. 身命 is a formal, literary synonym often used in solemn or dramatic contexts.
生せい命めい
A more scientific or biological term for 'life'. 身命 emphasizes the personal, physical existence of an individual, often with a nuance of sacrifice or risk.

Written forms

身命Usage100%
- しんめい
  Standard kanji spelling; the reading しんめい is more common than しんみょう.
- しんみょう
  Alternate reading; less common and may be considered archaic or literary.
しんみょう

Etymology

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.