人生は素晴らしい
jinsei wa subarashii
The English phrase "life is good" can be expressed in Japanese as 人生は素晴らしい (jinsei wa subarashii).
This expression is used to convey that a person is happy and satisfied with their existence.
What does it mean word for word?
The term 人生 (jinsei) specifically refers to the span of a human life or one's lifetime, rather than biological life or the concept of 'life' in a general sense.
Which one should you use?
For example, 生活は順調です。 means that life is going well and 生活はいい感じだよ。 or 生活は最高だ！ are ways to say life is good or fantastic.
How do you pronounce it?
jinsei wa subarashii
Did you know?
- The character 生 in 人生 (jinsei) is one of the most versatile in Japanese, appearing in words for 'birth', 'raw food' and 'living'. In this phrase, it specifically transforms into the concept of a human lifespan.
- The word 素晴らしい (subarashii) originally described the brilliance of a sunrise or a gleaming object. Today it means 'wonderful' or 'splendid' in a way that implies a sense of awe.
- While 人生は素晴らしい is grammatically correct, saying it out loud can sound like you are a character in a dramatic movie or a philosophical novel rather than a person in daily life.
Examples in context
- 最近どう？How have you been lately?
- うん、生活は順調です。Yeah, life is going well.
- 人生は素晴らしいですね。Jinsei wa subarashii desu ne.Life is good, isn't it?
- 君の言う通り、人生は素晴らしい。Kimi no iu toori, jinsei wa subarashii.As you say, life is good.
- 穏やかな日常を送れていると、人生は素晴らしいと感じる。Odayaka na nichijou o okurete iru to, jinsei wa subarashii to kanjiru.When I can live a peaceful daily life, I feel that life is good.
Example conversation
Two friends are sitting in a park on a sunny afternoon.
- 結衣 Yuiこんなに天気が良いと、人生は素晴らしいと思えるね。Konna ni tenki ga yoi to, jinsei wa subarashii to omoeru ne.When the weather is this good, I can feel that life is good.
- 健太 Kenta本当だね。結衣の言う通りだよ。Hontou da ne. Yui no iu toori da yo.That's true. It's just as you say, Yui.
- 結衣 Yui健太も、そう思う？Kenta mo, sou omou?Do you think so too, Kenta?
- 健太 Kentaああ、最高の気分だよ。Aa, saikou no kibun da yo.Yeah, I feel great.
