About
The character 命, formed by combining 令 for 'command' and 口 for 'mouth', initially denoted the issuing of an oral directive or decree, with its structure emphasizing the link between spoken authority and its execution. Over time, the semantic scope of the character extended from concrete orders to abstract concepts, eventually encompassing the ideas of 'destiny' and 'life', thereby reflecting a conceptual shift where existence and fortune were viewed as governed by a supreme mandate. This evolution in meaning, while retaining the foundational notion of imposed will, illustrates how the character adapted to convey broader philosophical understandings of predetermined fate and vital force.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
生命是最宝贵的。
他的命运发生了改变。
我们必须服从命令。
这条命是他救回来的。
遇到危险时要大声喊救命。
他相信这是命中注定的。
那场革命改变了国家的命运。
完成这个使命，是他毕生的追求。