Japanese word

宿命

Pronunciation

Romajishukumei

Meaning

  • nounfate

Example

彼は自分の宿命を受け入れました。kare wa ji bun no shuku mei o u ke i re ma shi ta

He accepted his destiny.

Illustration for 宿命 (fate)

More examples

困難に直面したとき、宿命に抗う強さが必要です。kon nan ni choku men shi ta to ki shuku mei ni araga u tsuyo sa ga hitsu yō de su

When facing difficulties, strength is needed to resist one's fate.

Core concept

It frames a person's course of life as set by forces beyond personal control.

Common phrases

  • 宿命を受け入れるshuku mei o u ke i re ru

    accept one's fate

  • 宿命に逆らうshuku mei ni saka ra u

    defy one's fate

  • 宿命に導かれるshuku mei ni michibi ka re ru

    be guided by fate

Similar words

運命unmei: The course of life believed to be controlled by forces beyond a person's will.
定めsadame: A fixed course of life accepted as unavoidable.
命運meiun: The fate governing the success or failure of a person or undertaking.

Definition in Japanese

人の力では避けたり変えたりできないものとして、あらかじめ定められた人生の成り行き。hito no chikara de wa sa ke ta ri ka e ta ri de ki na i mo no to shi te a ra ka ji me sada me ra re ta jin sei no na ri yu ki

Word origin

宿命 (shukumei) combines 宿 (shuku, "a previous life" in Buddhist usage) with 命 (mei, "life's allotted course"), expressing the idea of a life course determined before the present life.

Usage tips

  • In Japanese narratives, 宿命 (shukumei) often marks a character's life-long burden or conflict, giving the word a solemn tone rather than the casual force of a simple prediction.

Other meanings

  • destinynoun

Opposites

  • 自由意志jiyūishifree willnoun

Related words

  • 宿命論shukumeironfatalismnoun
  • 宿命的shukumeitekifatefulna-adjective
  • 宿命論者shukumeironshafatalistnoun

Word lists with this word