yīshēngyīshì: 一生一世 - One Lifetime, For a Lifetime

• Keywords: yishengyishi, 一生一世, one life one world, for a lifetime Chinese, forever in Chinese, Chinese wedding vow, Chinese romance, Chinese love promise, til death do us part in Chinese, Chinese idioms about love
• Summary: 一生一世 (yīshēngyīshì) is a deeply romantic and profound Chinese phrase that translates to “one lifetime” or “for a lifetime.” It represents a total and complete commitment to someone or something for the entire duration of one's life. Unlike the more general “forever,” this term is specifically tied to the finite, precious span of a human life, making it a powerful expression used in wedding vows, love promises, and declarations of unwavering loyalty.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): yīshēngyīshì
• Part of Speech: Idiomatic Expression / Adverbial Phrase
• HSK Level: N/A (but extremely common and culturally essential)
• Concise Definition: For the entirety of one's life; from birth until death.
• In a Nutshell: “一生一世” is the ultimate promise of lifelong commitment. It's not about an abstract, infinite “forever”; it's about dedicating every single day you have on this earth to someone. The repetition of “one” (一) emphasizes the singularity and completeness of this promise—you have one life, and you are giving it all. It carries a heavy, beautiful weight of sincerity and devotion.

• 一 (yī): The number “one”; signifies a whole, a single, or the entirety.
• 生 (shēng): Means “life,” “to be born,” or “to live.”
• 一 (yī): “One” is repeated for emphasis and rhythm.
• 世 (shì): Means “world,” “era,” or “lifetime.” In this context, it specifically refers to one's existence or lifetime.

When combined, “一 (one) 生 (life) 一 (one) 世 (lifetime)” literally means “one life, one lifetime.” The structure creates a powerful poetic statement: this one life I have, for this one lifetime I've been given, is dedicated to you.

• The Ultimate Romantic Vow: This phrase is the gold standard for expressing romantic commitment in Chinese culture. It is the heart of countless wedding vows, love songs, and dramatic declarations in movies and TV shows. It encapsulates the ideal of a love that is not only passionate but also enduring and unwavering through all of life's challenges.
• Comparison to “’Til Death Do Us Part”: A Western equivalent is the wedding vow “’til death do us part.” However, there's a subtle but important difference in feeling. “’Til death do us part” is a boundary—it states the condition upon which the contract ends. “一生一世,” on the other hand, is a proactive promise about the journey itself. It's less about the finish line (death) and more about the entire, active duration of the commitment. It feels more poetic and less contractual, focusing on the beautiful, finite gift of a single lifetime together.
• Related Values: The concept is deeply tied to cultural values of loyalty (忠诚 - zhōngchéng), commitment (承诺 - chéngnuò), and the cherished belief in fated love (缘分 - yuánfèn). The idea is that if you find your fated person, a commitment of “一生一世” is the natural and most sincere expression of that bond.

• Love and Romance: This is its primary domain. It is used in proposals, anniversary cards, love letters, and whispered promises. Saying “我会爱你一生一世” (I will love you for a lifetime) is a serious and deeply moving declaration.
• Social Media: The phrase is incredibly popular online. Couples often use #一生一世 in their wedding or anniversary posts on platforms like Weibo and Xiaohongshu. The numbers “1314” are often used as a numerical slang for “一生一世” because their pronunciation in Mandarin (yīsānyīsì) sounds similar to the phrase.
• Marketing: Because of its powerful, positive connotations, advertisers use it to sell products that symbolize longevity and commitment, such as diamonds (“a diamond is forever”), insurance policies, and even luxury real estate.
• Formality & Connotation: It carries a very positive and sincere connotation. While deeply emotional, it can be used in both formal (e.g., wedding ceremony) and informal (e.g., a private conversation between partners) settings. However, it is a “heavy” phrase; using it casually or for something trivial would sound ridiculous and insincere.

• Example 1:
  • 我承诺会爱你、照顾你，一生一世。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ chéngnuò huì ài nǐ, zhàogù nǐ, yīshēngyīshì.
  • English: I promise to love you and take care of you for a lifetime.
  • Analysis: A classic and direct use of the phrase, perfect for a wedding vow or a very serious promise. It acts as an adverbial phrase modifying “love and take care of you.”
• Example 2:
  • 他对她的爱是一生一世的。
  • Pinyin: Tā duì tā de ài shì yīshēngyīshì de.
  • English: His love for her is for a lifetime.
  • Analysis: Here, the phrase functions as an adjective describing the nature of his love, using the particle “的 (de).”
• Example 3:
  • 你真的相信有一生一世的爱情吗？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ zhēn de xiāngxìn yǒu yīshēngyīshì de àiqíng ma?
  • English: Do you really believe in a “for-a-lifetime” kind of love?
  • Analysis: This shows how the phrase can be used to describe a *type* of love. It's a common question in philosophical or romantic discussions.
• Example 4:
  • 这枚钻戒代表了我一生一世的承诺。
  • Pinyin: Zhè méi zuànjiè dàibiǎo le wǒ yīshēngyīshì de chéngnuò.
  • English: This diamond ring represents my lifelong commitment.
  • Analysis: A perfect example from a marketing or proposal context, linking a physical object to the abstract concept of lifelong devotion.
• Example 5:
  • 很多人结婚时都希望能和对方一生一世走下去。
  • Pinyin: Hěn duō rén jiéhūn shí dōu xīwàng néng hé duìfāng yīshēngyīshì zǒu xiàqù.
  • English: When many people get married, they all hope they can walk on with their partner for a lifetime.
  • Analysis: This sentence describes a common societal hope or ideal associated with marriage.
• Example 6:
  • 父母对子女的爱才是真正的一生一世，不求回报。
  • Pinyin: Fùmǔ duì zǐnǚ de ài cái shì zhēnzhèng de yīshēngyīshì, bù qiú huíbào.
  • English: The love of parents for their children is the true lifelong love, asking for nothing in return.
  • Analysis: This expands the usage beyond romantic love to describe the profound, unconditional love within a family.
• Example 7:
  • 曾经我以为我们会一生一世，但现实总是残酷的。
  • Pinyin: Céngjīng wǒ yǐwéi wǒmen huì yīshēngyīshì, dàn xiànshí zǒngshì cánkù de.
  • English: I once thought we would be together for a lifetime, but reality is always cruel.
  • Analysis: A poignant example showing the phrase used to express a broken promise or a lost hope, highlighting its emotional weight.
• Example 8:
  • 这首歌的歌词写的就是一个关于一生一世的爱情故事。
  • Pinyin: Zhè shǒu gē de gēcí xiě de jiùshì yí ge guānyú yīshēngyīshì de àiqíng gùshi.
  • English: The lyrics of this song are about a love story that lasts a lifetime.
  • Analysis: Demonstrates its common use in media and art to label or categorize a theme.
• Example 9:
  • 我们许下一生一世的约定，永不分离。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen xǔxià yīshēngyīshì de yuēdìng, yǒng bù fēnlí.
  • English: We made a lifelong pact, to never be separated.
  • Analysis: “约定 (yuēdìng)” means a pact or agreement. This sentence is highly poetic and emphasizes the act of making the promise.
• Example 10:
  • 我只想和你平平淡淡地过完这一生一世。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ zhǐ xiǎng hé nǐ píngpíngdàndàn de guò wán zhè yīshēngyīshì.
  • English: I just want to spend this entire lifetime with you, simply and quietly.
  • Analysis: This beautiful sentence contrasts the grandness of the promise with the desire for a simple, ordinary life together, which many feel is the truest form of love.

• “一生一世” vs. “永远 (yǒngyuǎn)”: This is the most common point of confusion for learners.
  • 永远 (yǒngyuǎn) means “forever” or “always.” It's general and can be infinite. You can say “the stars will shine forever (星星会永远闪耀).”
  • 一生一世 (yīshēngyīshì) means “for a lifetime.” It is specifically bounded by a human life. It is finite, personal, and therefore feels more tangible and precious. You would not say “the stars will shine for a lifetime (星星会闪耀一生一世)” because stars outlive humans.
  • Mistake: Using `一生一世` for non-living things or abstract concepts that extend beyond a human lifespan. It's almost exclusively for commitments made by or for a person.
• Overusing the Phrase: “一生一世” is a heavyweight champion of romantic phrases. Using it for trivial matters will make you sound silly and insincere.
  • Incorrect: 我会一生一世喜欢这个冰淇淋！(Wǒ huì yīshēngyīshì xǐhuān zhège bīngqílín!) - “I will like this ice cream for a lifetime!”
  • Why it's wrong: It's dramatic and misuses a term of deep personal commitment on a fleeting preference. Reserve it for people, promises, and profound feelings.

• 永远 (yǒngyuǎn) - The more general term for “forever” or “always,” which lacks the specific “human lifespan” constraint.
• 白头偕老 (báitóuxiélǎo) - “To grow old together until your hair is white.” A direct, visual goal of a `一生一世` commitment.
• 海誓山盟 (hǎishìshānméng) - “Oaths as deep as the sea and as high as the mountains.” A phrase describing the solemn, unbreakable nature of the vows made, often including a promise of `一生一世`.
• 天长地久 (tiānchángdìjiǔ) - “As eternal as heaven and earth.” Another term for everlasting, but often used to describe love on a more cosmic, epic scale.
• 承诺 (chéngnuò) - A promise or commitment. Making a `承诺` is the action that establishes a `一生一世` bond.
• 缘分 (yuánfèn) - The concept of destiny or fate that brings two people together, often believed to be the foundation for a `一生一世` relationship.
• 至死不渝 (zhìsǐbùyú) - “Unyielding until death.” A very formal and literary way to express unwavering loyalty, similar in meaning to `一生一世`.
• 我爱你 (wǒ ài nǐ) - “I love you.” The fundamental declaration that is often followed up with the promise of `一生一世`.