What it means
인생 means "life" in the sense of one's life journey, fate, or existence. Different from 생활 (daily life/lifestyle) or 목숨 (one's life/breath). 인생 is philosophical and weighty.
Nuance & when to use
인생이 뭐야? = What is life? 인생 맛집 = a restaurant that changes your life (a trendy Korean phrase for the best restaurant ever). 인생샷 = a life-changing photo / perfect photo. 인생 is frequently used in compound nouns to mean "the best ever" in recent Korean slang.
⚠ Common mistake
인생 ≠ 생활. 인생 = life (big picture, philosophical). 생활 = daily life, everyday living. 인생 is more poetic.
Example sentences
See also
FAQ
When is this used?
인생이 뭐야? = What is life? 인생 맛집 = a restaurant that changes your life (a trendy Korean phrase for the best restaurant ever). 인생샷 = a life-changing photo / perfect photo. 인생 is frequently used in compound nouns to mean "the best ever" in recent Korean slang.
What's a common mistake?
인생 ≠ 생활. 인생 = life (big picture, philosophical). 생활 = daily life, everyday living. 인생 is more poetic.
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