身世

shēnshì

noun #16,917

Meanings

1 one's life experience
2 one's lot
3 one's past history

Characters

generation; world

One's body through the generations — one's personal history and background.

Examples

他从来不愿意提起自己的身世。

Tā cónglái bù yuànyì tíqǐ zìjǐ de shēnshì.

He never wants to bring up his own life history.

她的身世非常坎坷。

Tā de shēnshì fēicháng kǎnkě.

Her life story has been very rough.

Tips

usage

Often implies a troubled or mysterious past. You'll see it in novels and dramas when a character's hidden origins are revealed.

Stroke Order

身 shēn

世 shì