You'll often hear the word 辈子 (bèizi) when people talk about time, especially long periods of time. Think of it as meaning 'a lifetime' or 'all one's life'.
It's used to describe something that lasts for a very long time, or something that someone experiences throughout their entire life. You can use it to talk about how long something will take, or how long someone has been doing something.
For example, if you want to say 'for a lifetime', you can use 辈子. Or, if you want to say 'the rest of my life', 辈子 is a good word to use.
“辈子” (bèizi) means 'all one's life' or 'lifetime'. It's commonly used to express duration and is often paired with quantifiers like “一” (yī, one) to mean 'a whole lifetime' or 'one's entire life'.
For example, you might say “一辈子” (yībèizi) to talk about something that lasts a lifetime, such as a lifelong dream or a promise that will be kept forever. It can be used in both positive and negative contexts, referring to enduring happiness or lifelong regrets. Remember, it's a noun, so it often functions as a time phrase in a sentence.
§ What does 辈子 mean?
The Chinese word 辈子 (bèizi) is a noun. It refers to a person's entire life, from birth to death. Think of it as 'lifetime' or 'all one's life' in English. It's a common and practical word that you'll hear a lot in everyday conversation.
- DEFINITION
- Lifetime; all one's life.
When people use 辈子, they are usually talking about something that spans their entire existence, or a significant part of it. It can be used in both positive and negative contexts, expressing strong feelings, commitments, or regrets.
§ When do people use 辈子?
You'll often hear 辈子 used in situations where someone is expressing a long-term commitment, a deep feeling, or a lasting impact. Here are some common scenarios:
- Expressing love or commitment: When someone says they will love someone 'for a lifetime,' 辈子 is the word to use. It emphasizes the enduring nature of their feelings.
- Describing a long-term goal or effort: If something takes a whole lifetime to achieve or work on, 辈子 fits perfectly.
- Talking about lifelong regret or happiness: When an event or decision has a permanent effect on someone's life, 辈子 can be used to convey that lasting impact.
- General statements about life: It can also be used in more general philosophical statements about the human experience.
我这辈子都不会忘记你。(Wǒ zhè bèizi dōu bú huì wàngjì nǐ.)
Translation hint: I will never forget you my whole life (this lifetime).
他这辈子都在为这个梦想奋斗。(Tā zhè bèizi dōu zài wèi zhège mèngxiǎng fèndòu.)
Translation hint: He has been fighting for this dream his whole life.
It's a really useful word for adding depth and emphasis to your Chinese sentences. Instead of just saying 'I will love you forever,' using 辈子 expresses a deeper, more personal commitment tied to their very existence. Pay attention to how native speakers use it in different contexts, and you'll quickly get a feel for its nuances.
§ 辈子 vs. 一生 (yīshēng)
Both 辈子 (bèizi) and 一生 (yīshēng) refer to 'lifetime' or 'all one's life'. However, there's a subtle but important difference in how they are typically used. Think of 辈子 as more informal and commonly used in everyday speech and when expressing personal feelings or commitments. It often carries a more emotional weight, especially when paired with words like 'this' (这辈子), 'next' (下辈子), or 'previous' (上辈子).
一生 (yīshēng), on the other hand, is a bit more formal and can be used in a broader context, often in written language, historical accounts, or when discussing a person's entire life from a more objective perspective. It can also refer to a 'lifetime' in a more general sense, without the strong personal attachment that 辈子 often conveys.
- Key Difference
- 辈子 is more informal and personal, often used with 'this/next/previous'. 一生 is more formal and general.
§ Examples with 辈子
我这辈子都不会忘记你。
Translation hint: I will never forget you in this life (this lifetime).
她下辈子想成为一只鸟。
Translation hint: She wants to be a bird in her next life (next lifetime).
他上辈子一定是个英雄。
Translation hint: He must have been a hero in his previous life (previous lifetime).
§ Examples with 一生
他奉献了一生给科学事业。
Translation hint: He dedicated his whole life to the cause of science.
这部电影讲述了一个人传奇的一生。
Translation hint: This movie tells the legendary life of a person.
§ Other 'lifetime' related words
有生之年 (yǒushēng zhī nián): This literally means 'within one's living years' and is often used to express a wish or a goal that one hopes to achieve during their lifetime. It has a more formal and slightly poetic feel.
我希望在有生之年能看到世界和平。
Translation hint: I hope to see world peace within my lifetime.
终生 (zhōngshēng): This also means 'all one's life' or 'lifelong'. It's often used to describe something that lasts for an entire life, such as a commitment, a condition, or a pursuit. It's more about the duration of something.
他把终生献给了教育事业。
Translation hint: He dedicated his whole life to the cause of education.
§ When to use 辈子
Use 辈子 when you want to express a personal, often emotional, connection to the concept of a lifetime, especially when talking about 'this life', 'next life', or 'previous life'. It's great for promises, regrets, or strong feelings that span an entire existence.
How Formal Is It?
"他为教育事业奉献了毕生精力。 (He dedicated his whole life to the cause of education.)"
"我一生都在努力学习。 (I've been striving to learn my whole life.)"
"我这辈子都会记得你。 (I'll remember you my whole life.)"
"我们永远是好朋友。 (We will always be good friends forever.)"
"这辈子值了！ (This life was worth it!)"
Exemples par niveau
他这辈子没见过雪。
He has never seen snow in his life.
我一辈子都会记得你。
I will remember you all my life.
她这辈子都住在这里。
She has lived here all her life.
我们一辈子都是好朋友。
We are good friends for life.
他这辈子只爱一个人。
He only loves one person in his life.
我这辈子还没去过北京。
I haven't been to Beijing in my life.
他们一辈子都在一起。
They have been together all their lives.
你这辈子想做什么？
What do you want to do in your life?
他这辈子都没离开过这个小镇。
He never left this small town in his entire life.
我这辈子最大的愿望就是环游世界。
My biggest wish in this lifetime is to travel around the world.
能遇到你是这辈子最幸运的事。
Meeting you is the luckiest thing in my life.
她把毕生的精力都献给了教育事业。
She dedicated her entire life's energy to education.
我这辈子也忘不了那个夜晚。
I will never forget that night in my life.
他们约定下辈子还要在一起。
They agreed to be together again in their next life.
这辈子，我只爱你一个人。
In this lifetime, I only love you.
能有这样的朋友，我这辈子都值了。
Having such friends, my whole life is worth it.
Teste-toi 18 questions
我 ___ 想去中国。
To say 'this lifetime', we use '这辈子'.
他 ___ 都很喜欢学习。
To say 'all his life' or 'his whole life', we use '一辈子'.
我 ___ 都会记得你。
To express 'I will remember you this lifetime', '这辈子' is the correct choice.
她 ___ 都住在北京。
'一辈子' means 'all her life' or 'her whole life', indicating a continuous action over a lifetime.
我们是 ___ 的朋友。
To say 'friends for life' or 'lifelong friends', '一辈子' is used.
他 ___ 都想当老师。
'这辈子' means 'this lifetime', implying a desire for his current life.
Write a short sentence about something you want to do your whole life, using '辈子'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
我这辈子想去很多国家旅行。
Complete the sentence: '他爱她____.' (He loves her ____. Use '辈子'.)
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
他爱她一辈子。
Describe a dream you've had your 'whole life' using '辈子'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
我这辈子最大的梦想是学习中文。
她这辈子没去过哪里？
Read this passage:
她这辈子没有去过海边。她很想去看看大海。她希望有一天能实现这个愿望。
她这辈子没去过哪里？
文章中说“她这辈子没有去过海边”。
文章中说“她这辈子没有去过海边”。
爷爷奶奶认识了多久？
Read this passage:
我的爷爷奶奶认识一辈子了。他们结婚很多年，一直很幸福。
爷爷奶奶认识了多久？
文章中说“我的爷爷奶奶认识一辈子了”。
文章中说“我的爷爷奶奶认识一辈子了”。
他这辈子都在做什么？
Read this passage:
他这辈子都在努力工作。他希望家人能过上好日子。他是一个好爸爸。
他这辈子都在做什么？
文章中说“他这辈子都在努力工作”。
文章中说“他这辈子都在努力工作”。
她把所有的精力都献给了科研事业，可以说，她为科学奉献了___。
The sentence implies a lifelong dedication to scientific research, making '一辈子' (all one's life) the most appropriate choice.
这个决定将会影响我___，我必须慎重考虑。
The phrase '影响我一辈子' (affect me for my entire life) emphasizes the long-term and significant impact of the decision, fitting the context of careful consideration.
他发誓要用___去守护他的祖国，永不背叛。
'用一辈子去守护' (to guard with one's whole life) indicates a lifelong commitment, which aligns with the strong vow of never betraying one's country.
这段刻骨铭心的经历，我___都无法忘记。
'刻骨铭心的经历' (an unforgettable experience) suggests a profound impact that would last a lifetime, thus '一辈子' (all one's life) is the correct fit.
为了实现这个梦想，他奋斗了___，从不言弃。
The phrase '奋斗了一辈子' (struggled all one's life) reflects a persistent and lifelong effort towards achieving a dream, aligning with the idea of 'never giving up'.
他们相守了___，彼此扶持，是邻里羡慕的模范夫妻。
'相守了一辈子' (stayed together for their entire lives) implies a lifelong partnership and mutual support, which aligns with being a 'model couple'.
/ 18 correct
Perfect score!
Contenu associé
Ce mot dans d'autres langues
Plus de mots sur general
一下儿
A1a bit, a moment
点儿
A1a little bit
有点儿
A1a little, somewhat (negative connotation)
一下
A2A bit; a moment (used after a verb).
一点儿
A1a little, a bit
一会儿
A1a moment, a while
一部分
B1part; portion; minority
异样
B1different; unusual; strange
关于
A1about, concerning
快要
A2to be about to (happen)
