Meanings of 终身
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Podcast: 终身
Podcast: 终身
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AI Study Notes for 终身
终身 (zhōngshēn) vs 终老 (zhōnglǎo) — use 终身 for commitments or experiences lasting a lifetime, while 终老 emphasizes the state of growing old or dying at an old age.
Learners often confuse 终身 with other time-related terms like 一生 (yīshēng), which also means 'lifetime' but can imply a more general sense. It is more formal and typically used in written contexts, especially in legal or serious discussions about marriage and commitments.
As an HSK Level 6 word, 终身 connects well with other advanced vocabulary related to life stages and commitments. Students should focus on its usage in phrases about marriage and lifelong responsibilities, as well as its grammatical structures in complex sentences.
Learners often mistakenly use 终身 in casual contexts, saying something like '我今天去买东西为我终身' (I am going to buy something for my lifelong). The correct usage would be '我今天去买东西为我一生' to indicate a more general time frame.
Pronunciation of 终身
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Component Characters
How to say lifelong in Chinese
“lifelong” in Chinese is终身
终身 (zhōngshēn) refers to something that lasts for one's entire life, often used in the context of commitments or experiences that are permanent. Commonly associated with marriage or lifelong goals, it emphasizes the ongoing nature of certain responsibilities or relationships.
When to use 终身
Learners often confuse 终身 with other time-related terms like 一生 (yīshēng), which also means 'lifetime' but can imply a more general sense. It is more formal and typically used in written contexts, especially in legal or serious discussions about marriage and commitments.
终身 or something close to it
终身 (zhōngshēn) vs 终老 (zhōnglǎo) — use 终身 for commitments or experiences lasting a lifetime, while 终老 emphasizes the state of growing old or dying at an old age.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mistakenly use 终身 in casual contexts, saying something like '我今天去买东西为我终身' (I am going to buy something for my lifelong). The correct usage would be '我今天去买东西为我一生' to indicate a more general time frame.
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Grammar Patterns of 终身
终身 functions as an adverb — it modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb. In Chinese, adverbs sit BEFORE the verb they modify (我也去, 他常常迟到), never after it. It carries 3 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
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Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
1977年，他被判谋杀罪名成立，判处____监禁。
In 1977 he was convicted of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment.
Example Sentences for 终身 (6)
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Frequently Asked Questions about 终身
It's generally more formal and suited for serious discussions about commitments, so it's better to avoid using it in casual contexts.
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