终身

zhōngshēn · HSK 5

all one's life

⏳ 终 = end + 身 = body; the whole span from start to end of a body's life

终 means end or final, 身 means body or self. Together: from start to end of one's body — a whole lifetime. Also extends to marriage, since traditionally a marriage was meant to last one's entire life.

身 — pictograph of a pregnant body
身 is a pictograph originally depicting a person with a swollen belly, representing a pregnant woman in profile. Over time the meaning broadened from 'pregnancy' or 'torso' to refer to the body in general, and by extension oneself or one's person.

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