知命

Chinese

to know; to be aware life; fate
simp. and trad.
(知命)

Etymology

"Age of fifty"

From the Analects:

子曰:「三十四十不惑五十天命六十七十從心所欲踰矩。」 [Traditional Chinese poetry, trad.]
子曰:「三十四十不惑五十天命六十七十从心所欲逾矩。」 [Traditional Chinese poetry, simp.]
From: The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
Zǐyuē: “Wú shí yǒu wǔ ér zhì yú xué, sānshí ér lì, sìshí ér bùhuò, wǔshí ér zhī tiānmìng, liùshí ér ěr shùn, qīshí ér cóngxīnsuǒyù, bù yújǔ.” [Pinyin]
The Master said, "At fifteen, I had my mind bent on learning. At thirty, I stood firm. At forty, I had no doubts. At fifty, I knew the decrees of Heaven. At sixty, my ear was an obedient organ for the reception of truth. At seventy, I could follow what my heart desired, without transgressing what was right.

Pronunciation


Noun

知命

  1. (literary, idiomatic) age of fifty

Derived terms

See also

Verb

知命

  1. (literary) to understand the Decree of Heaven; to know destiny

Derived terms

Japanese

Kanji in this term

Grade: 2
めい
Grade: 3
on'yomi

Etymology

From Chinese 知命 (zhīmìng)

Pronunciation

  • (Tokyo) めー [chìméé] (Heiban – [0])[1]
  • IPA(key): [t͡ɕime̞ː]

Noun

()(めい) • (chimei

  1. understanding the Decree of Heaven, knowing one's fate
  2. age of fifty

References

  1. ^ Matsumura, Akira, editor (2006), 大辞林 [Daijirin] (in Japanese), Third edition, Tokyo: Sanseidō, →ISBN