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一辈子 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
一辈子yíbèizi(for) a lifetimeHSK 6, m, rank #1925, Hard
yíbèizi(yi2bei4zi5) T1
  1. 1(for) a lifetime
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March 24, 2026
一辈子(一輩子)yíbèizi(yi2bei4zi5)

一辈子 (yī bèi zi) refers to the duration of a person's entire life or a significant period within it. It is often used to express commitment or longevity in relationships, careers, or personal endeavors, and conveys a sense of permanence and seriousness.

Frequency#1925DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of 一辈子 is often tied to family values and lifelong commitments, such as marriage. The idea of dedicating one's life to family or a profession is highly regarded.

Memory Tip

Imagine a life-long journey on a straight path (一) that stretches through time (辈). Picture carrying a suitcase (子) filled with memories collected along the way, emphasizing that all these experiences last your entire life.

Meanings of 一辈子

yíbèizi(yi2bei4zi5)
1(for) a lifetime
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 一辈子

一辈子Simplified
一輩子Traditional
—Strokes
—Radical
数词shùcínumeral (num.)Part of Speech
#1925Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L6IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRB2

Podcast: 一辈子

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Podcast: 一辈子

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AI Study Notes for 一辈子

Quick Contrast

一生 (yīshēng) - use 一辈子 (yíbèizi) for emphasis on commitment or duration in a specific context, whereas 一生 (yīshēng) is more general for 'lifetime'.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a life-long journey on a straight path (一) that stretches through time (辈). Picture carrying a suitcase (子) filled with memories collected along the way, emphasizing that all these experiences last your entire life.

Usage Notes

When using 一辈子, be mindful of the context; it is typically used in informal settings but can also appear in more serious discussions. Common collocations include '爱一辈子' (love for a lifetime) and '工作一辈子' (work for a lifetime). Avoid mixing it with short-term contexts.

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK 5 word, 一辈子 connects well with other time-related vocabulary. Students should focus on its usage in different contexts and how it interacts with verbs to express lifelong commitments or actions.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of 一辈子 is often tied to family values and lifelong commitments, such as marriage. The idea of dedicating one's life to family or a profession is highly regarded.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 一辈子 with shorter expressions like 一年 (one year), leading to incorrect phrases like '我爱她一年' (I love her for one year) instead of '我爱她一辈子' (I love her for a lifetime). Remember that 一辈子 signifies a lifelong commitment.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 一辈子

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Component Characters

一yīone
HSK 11 strokes一
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辈bèicontemporaries
HSK 512 strokes非
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子zison
HSK 33 strokes子
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Write 一辈子

一
辈
子

Practice writing 一辈子 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Grammar Patterns of 一辈子

一辈子 functions as a number. It almost always combines with a measure word before a noun (三个人, 五本书). Standalone numbers are rare outside of math or counting. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 5

Complete the Sentence

她这____都恪守这些原则。

She has cleaved to these principles all her life.

Example Sentences for 一辈子 (10)

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1
她这一辈子都恪守这些原则。

tā zhè yī bèi zǐ dū kè shǒu zhè xiē yuán zé。

She has cleaved to these principles all her life.
2
我一辈子还从没听到过这样一堆废话。

wǒ yī bèi zǐ huán cóng méi tīng dào guò zhè yàng yī duī fèi huà。

I've never heard such a load of tripe in all my life.
3
他这一辈子都没能抓住金钱。

tā zhè yī bèi zǐ dū méi néng zhuā zhù jīn qián。

Money has slipped through his fingers all his life.
4
我一辈子都没见过这么乱七八糟的场面。

wǒ yī bèi zǐ dū méi jiàn guò zhè mó luàn qī bā zāo de cháng miàn。

I have never seen such a shambles in my life.
5
如果你规规矩矩，就可以一辈子都捧着这个饭碗。

rú guǒ nǐ guī guī jǔ jǔ， ， jiù kě yǐ yī bèi zǐ dū pěng zháo zhè gè fàn。

If you kept your nose clean, you had a job for life.
6
我一辈子都在同种族主义和偏见作斗争。

wǒ yī bèi zǐ dū zài tóng zhǒng zú zhǔ yì hé piān jiàn zuò dǒu zhēng。

I've spent a lifetime fighting against racism and prejudice.
7
我没法像他那样一辈子到老都在各地巡回演出。

wǒ méi fǎ xiàng tā nà yàng yī bèi zǐ dào lǎo dū zài gè dì xún huí yǎn chū。

I couldn't live my life out on tour like he does.
8
你一辈子放个屁也要卜一课, 究竟抵了些什么事?

nǐ yī bèi zǐ fàng gè pì yě yào bǔ yī kè, , jiū jìng dǐ le xiē shí mó?

You said Blacky was in terrible trouble, but nothing happened.
9
我一辈子受够了诽谤.

wǒ yī bèi zǐ shòu gòu le fěi bàng.

I have had enough obloquy for one lifetime.
10
这辆自行车够我用一辈子了.

zhè liàng zì háng chē gòu wǒ yòng yī bèi zǐ le.

This bike will last me a lifetime.

Cultural Notes for 一辈子

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, the concept of 一辈子 is often tied to family values and lifelong commitments, such as marriage. The idea of dedicating one's life to family or a profession is highly regarded.

🌏Cross-cultural Insight

In Western cultures, the idea of a lifetime commitment may be more flexible, often associated with personal choice rather than societal expectations.

Frequently Asked Questions about 一辈子

No, 一辈子 conveys a long-term perspective, so it's inappropriate for short-term goals.