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March 24, 2026
生平()shēngpíng(sheng1ping2)
生平 (shēngpíng) refers to the entirety of a person's life or lifetime, often used in biographies or when discussing someone's experiences. It encompasses significant events, achievements, and the overall journey of an individual throughout their life.
Frequency#14885DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, biographies often emphasize a person's 生平 to highlight moral lessons and achievements, reflecting the value placed on learning from one's life experiences.
Memory Tip
Imagine a tree (生) growing through different seasons, representing the various phases of a person's life. The tree's '平' branches symbolize the balance and steady growth throughout those years, helping you remember both the characters and their meaning.
Meanings of 生平
shēngpíng(sheng1ping2)
1life (a person's whole life)
2in one's entire life
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About 生平
生平Simplified
Traditional
—Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 生平
Podcast: 生平
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AI Study Notes for 生平
Quick Contrast
生涯 (shēngyá) refers specifically to a person's career or professional life, while 生平 (shēngpíng) encompasses the entirety of a person's life, including personal experiences.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a tree (生) growing through different seasons, representing the various phases of a person's life. The tree's '平' branches symbolize the balance and steady growth throughout those years, helping you remember both the characters and their meaning.
Usage Notes
生平 is typically used in formal contexts such as literature, history, and biographies. A common mistake is using it in casual conversation, where simpler terms like '生活' might be more appropriate. Be mindful not to confuse it with '平生', which has a similar but slightly different meaning.
HSK Study Tips
生平 is not an HSK vocabulary word, but it connects to HSK Level 5 terms related to life and experiences. Students at this level should focus on its usage in written texts and practice differentiating it from similar terms.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, biographies often emphasize a person's 生平 to highlight moral lessons and achievements, reflecting the value placed on learning from one's life experiences.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 生平 with 生活, using it incorrectly in casual contexts. For example, saying '我今天的生平很忙' instead of '我今天的生活很忙' is incorrect; the latter is the appropriate phrase.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 生平
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Cultural Notes for 生平
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, biographies often emphasize a person's 生平 to highlight moral lessons and achievements, reflecting the value placed on learning from one's life experiences.
Frequently Asked Questions about 生平
It is best to avoid using 生平 in informal settings; instead, opt for simpler terms like '生活'.
No, 生平 encompasses all aspects of a person's life, including challenges and hardships.
生平 refers to the entirety of a person's life, while 个人经历 focuses specifically on personal experiences.
