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命
🇹🇼🇭🇰🇨🇳🇯🇵🇰🇷

fate

HSK 6 N2
Abstract →Miscellaneous
mìng
メイ、ミョウ
いのち
명
Phonosemantic compound. 口 represents the meaning and 令 represents the sound and meaning. Based on the original meaning "command". The meaning later shifted to "fate" and "life".
Components
口 mouth+ 令 orders =
命 fate
口 Meaning component
kǒu mouth
令 Meaning component
lìng orders
command, order
令 also serves as a meaning component.
View phonetic series →
Notes
Similar Characters
呤 purine侃 upright and strong兽 bestial (simp)冋 a desert加 add卟 a chemical compound古 ancient叨 talkative叫 call召 summon叭 trumpet叮 sting可 can叱 bawl叶 be in harmony (simp)号 appellation (jp)叹 admire (simp)叼 hold in the mouth叽 sigh (simp)吁 alas (simp)
Historical Evolution
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Oracle
(~1250-1000 BC)
Bronze Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)
Bronze
Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)
Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)
Bronze
Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)
Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)
Bronze
Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)
Bronze Late Spring and Autumn (~500 BC)
Bronze
Late Spring and Autumn (~500 BC)
Bronze Mid Warring States (~300 BC)
Bronze
Mid Warring States (~300 BC)
Bronze Mid Warring States (~300 BC)
Bronze
Mid Warring States (~300 BC)
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal
Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal
Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal
Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Seal
Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)
Clerical
Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical
Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Clerical
Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
命
Regular
Modern
Chinese
命 [mìng]
life; fate; order or command; to assign a name, title etc
Japanese
御言 、 命 みこと 同音
noun honorific the spoken words of the emperor or a noble
命 いのち 同音

noun

  1. life; life force (sometimes written as 生命)
  2. lifetime; lifespan
  3. most important thing; foundation; core
  4. archaic paired tattoos of the "life" kanji on the upper arms of a man and woman (indicating unwavering love)
  5. archaic fate; destiny; karma
命 めい 同音

noun

  1. order; command; decree
  2. life
  3. destiny; fate
Example Sentences
🇯🇵 (2)
その犬は少女の命を救った。
The dog saved the girl's life.
子たる者すべからく親の命に従うべし。
Children should obey their parents.
Japanese Names
命 あきら
Akira given name
命 いのち
Inochi female given namesurname
命 まこと
Makoto given name
命 みこと
Mikoto female given name
命 めい
Mei female given name
CHINESE WORDS (200)
生命 [shēng​mìng] #564
life (as the characteristic of living beings)
革命 [gé​mìng] #5,117
revolution
命令 [mìng​lìng] #965
order
命运 [mìng​yùn] #1,643
fate
命运 [mìng​yùn] #1,643
fate
救命 [jiù​mìng] #1,329
to save sb's life
致命 [zhì​mìng] #2,596
fatal
拼命 [pīn​mìng] #4,117
to do one's utmost
使命 [shǐ​mìng] #3,815
mission
性命 [xìng​mìng] #3,449
life
190 more items
JAPANESE WORDS (200)
⭐ 運命 [うんめい] #1,136
fate
⭐ 命令 [めいれい] #1,445
order
⭐ 命じる [めいじる] #2,210
to order
⭐ 一生懸命 [いっしょうけんめい] #2,454
very hard
⭐ 生命 [せいめい] #2,626
life
⭐ 懸命 [けんめい] #4,414
eager
⭐ 使命 [しめい] #4,574
mission
⭐ 寿命 [じゅみょう] #5,575
lifespan
⭐ 致命的 [ちめいてき] #5,704
fatal
命を落とす [いのちをおとす] #6,780
to lose one's life
190 more items
KOREAN WORDS (40)
명령 #4,398
order; command
생명 #5,238
life
비명 #5,818
unnatural death; untimely death
운명 #16,816
fate; destiny
임명 #26,553
appointment; nomination; designation
망명자 #27,573
refugee; exile; fugitive; defector
혁명 #30,551
revolution
치명적 #38,388
being fatal; being lethal
수명 #38,667
lifespan; lifetime
명중 #44,305
hitting the bull's eye; hitting the mark
30 more items