命
fate · command · decree · destiny · life · appoint
Details
Description
Life/Fate - precious existence, destiny, vital force.
Stroke Order
Component Breakdown
Gather + mouth + seal
Cultural Context
Etymology
Composed of mouth and order. Commanding with mouth, fate.
Symbolism
Life, destiny, mission. Represents value and purpose of living.
Spiritual Meaning
Represents preciousness of life and heavenly mandate, implying spiritual responsibility to fulfill given mission.
Anime & Manga
進撃の巨人
しんげきのきょじん
Attack on Titan(2013)
Story of humanity fighting titans with lives at stake
View on Amazon →約束のネバーランド
やくそくのねばーらんど
The Promised Neverland(2019)
Escape thriller with lives on the line
View on Amazon →チェンソーマン
ちぇんそーまん
Chainsaw Man(2022)
Dark fantasy questioning the value of life
View on Amazon →Games
NieR:Automata
NieR: Automata(2017)
Questions android 'life' and meaning of existence
View on Amazon →デス・ストランディング
Death Stranding(2019)
Work themed around life, death, and connections of existence
View on Amazon →Words & Expressions
Four-Character Compounds
安心立命
あんしんりつめい
spiritual peace and enlightenment; keeping an unperturbed mind through faith; spiritual peace and enlightenment
一所懸命
いっしょけんめい
very hard; with utmost effort; as hard as one can; very hard
一生懸命
いっしょうけんめい
very hard; with utmost effort; as hard as one can; very hard
佳人薄命
かじんはくめい
beauties die young; beauty and luck seldom go together; beauties die young
絶体絶命
ぜったいぜつめい
desperate situation with no escape; being driven into a corner; being cornered; desperate situation with no escape
至上命令
しじょうめいれい
unconditional command; must-obey order; unconditional command
祥月命日
しょうつきめいにち
anniversary of a person's death; anniversary of a person's death
易姓革命
えきせいかくめい
revolution (change of dynasty) decreed by Heaven when the incumbent emperor is found lacking in moral virtue (old Chinese political thought); revolution (change of dynasty) decreed by Heaven when the incumbent emperor is found lacking in moral virtue (old Chinese political thought)
可惜身命
あたらしんみょう
valuing one's body and life; holding one's life dear; valuing one's body and life
美人薄命
びじんはくめい
beauty and fortune seldom go together; the beautiful die young; beauty and fortune seldom go together
不惜身命
ふしゃくしんみょう
devoting one's body and soul to Buddhist teachings; unsparing devotion to Buddhism; devoting one's body and soul to Buddhist teachings
延命息災
えんめいそくさい
health and longevity; enjoying a long and healthy life being untouched by disaster; health and longevity
五十知命
ごじゅうちめい
at age fifty, one comes to know the will of Heaven; at age fifty, one comes to know the will of Heaven
息災延命
そくさいえんめい
health and longevity; enjoying a long and healthy life being untouched by disaster; health and longevity
帰命頂礼
きみょうちょうらい
most formal form of a prayer; most formal form of a prayer
Proverbs & Idioms
命あっての物種
いのちあってのものだね
Life is the seed of all things
Everything depends on being alive first
命は鴻毛より軽し
いのちはこうもうよりかるし
Life is lighter than a goose feather
Life can be sacrificed for a greater cause
Poetry
君がため 惜しからざりし 命さへ 長くもがなと 思ひけるかな
Poem #50 from Hyakunin Isshu
忘れじの 行く末までは かたければ 今日をかぎりの 命ともがな
Poem #54 from Hyakunin Isshu