諺語 · a single proverb
人生在世
What does 人生在世 (rén shēng zài shì) mean?
人生在世 (rén shēng zài shì) is a line of classical verse (shīcí 詩詞). Word for word it reads "to be alive in this world." In use it means: The simple fact of existing among other people, with all its complications and beauty; the baseline condition of being human. You reach for it when you want that idea in one breath, and the Earth note it carries is why we hand it to those born in the Year of the Pig.
Literally: "to be alive in this world."
The reading
You are here. You did not choose the era, the family, the body. But you are here, and being here comes with a set of conditions: you will need others, others will need you, and the whole arrangement is temporary. Knowing these conditions is the beginning of living well inside them.
What kind of proverb it is
Source Common literary and philosophical expression; classical Chinese thought
Sits beside
Keep reading
Return to the Proverb Pond to draw another of the eighty-seven, or hear one read aloud. Read the rest of its chapter in Nature, Seasons & Health, or follow the years these lines belong to: Year of the Pig, Year of the Rat, and Year of the Ox.
Questions
Is 人生在世 a real Chinese proverb?
Yes. 人生在世 (rén shēng zài shì) is a line of classical verse (shīcí 詩詞), and it comes from Common literary and philosophical expression; classical Chinese thought. It is living Chinese heritage, given here with per-character pinyin and its source so you can trust the line, not a phrase invented in English.
How do you pronounce 人生在世?
In Mandarin it is rén shēng zài shì. Read the pinyin above each character to follow the tones, or press the speaker beside the calligraphy to hear your browser read 人生在世 aloud in Mandarin.