命运
Traditional: 命運
mìng yùn HSK 5

English Meaning

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📚 Example Sentences

我们应该努力改变自己的命运。
Wǒmen yīnggāi nǔlì gǎibiàn zìjǐ de mìngyùn.
We should work hard to change our own destiny.
他的命运非常悲惨。
Tā de mìngyùn fēicháng bēicǎn.
His fate is very tragic.
命运有时候让人感到无奈。
Mìngyùn yǒu shíhòu ràng rén gǎndào wúnài.
Destiny sometimes makes people feel helpless.
命运无法预测。
Mìngyùn wúfǎ yùcè.
Destiny cannot be predicted.
他相信命运。
Tā xiāngxìn mìngyùn.
He believes in fate.

💡 Memory Tip

Break the word down: 命 (mìng) means 'life' or 'command,' and 运 (yùn) means 'luck' or 'fortune.' Think of it as the 'fortune of your life' or the 'command of your luck'—your destiny.

📝 Usage Notes

This word is used in both formal and informal contexts, and appears frequently in both spoken and written Chinese. It is common in discussions about life, philosophy, personal stories, literature, and motivational contexts (e.g., changing one's fate).

📖 Grammar Points

Often used as a subject or object in a sentence. Common patterns: '改变/掌握 + 命运' (to change/grasp one's destiny), '命运 + 动词' (e.g., 命运决定 - fate decides). It is typically modified by adjectives like 好, 坏, 悲惨.

🏯 Cultural Notes

In Chinese culture, 命运 is a deeply rooted concept, often connected to traditional beliefs in destiny (天命) and the influence of cosmic forces. The idea that one can '改变命运' through effort (like education) is a common and powerful theme in modern societal discourse.

🔄 Similar Words

Similar words include 运气 (yùnqi, 'luck' - more temporary and random) and 宿命 (sùmìng, 'predestined fate' - more literary/philosophical, with a stronger sense of inevitability). 命运 is broader, covering both the concept of destiny and the overall course of one's life.

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