命 means “life, fate, command”

いのち · inochi

Also: decree, destiny

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

いのち

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

メイ, ミョウ

JLPT N3 · Taught in grade 3 · 8 strokes

The story

Order (令) with a mouth (口): a command spoken aloud, and the oldest command of all, the life you are given. 命 is life itself, 運命 is fate, and 一生懸命, "staking your life", means giving something everything you have.

Used in 命 (inochi, life), 運命 (unmei, fate), and 一生懸命 (isshoukenmei, with all one's might)

More from Life & Breath

• 亡 pass away
• 老 old age
• 抱 hug
• 息 breath
• 吸 inhale
• 祖 ancestor
• 腹 belly
• 眠 sleep
• 活 lively
• 歳 age
• 身 body
• 若 young

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Readings from KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA.