English–Japanese
“during one's lifetime” in Japanese
Japanese
Pronunciation
Romajiseizen
Example
祖父は生前、毎日日記を書いていました。so fu wa sei zen mai nichi nik ki o ka i te i ma shi ta
My grandfather kept a diary every day during his lifetime.
How to say “during one's lifetime” in Japanese
“During one's lifetime” in Japanese is 生前 (seizen).
Marks the part of a person's life that comes before death, often framing an action or condition as existing before that boundary.
Example sentences with 生前
父は生前、地域の子どもたちに本を寄付していました。chichi wa sei zen chi iki no ko do mo ta chi ni hon o ki fu shi te i ma shi ta
During his lifetime, my father donated books to children in the community.
Tips for using 生前
- 生前 (seizen) is often used in formal contexts about a person's legacy, so it can sound more solemn than a casual expression for being alive.