Definitions

1. 1. lit. to be born, to grow old, to get sick and to die
2. 2. fig. the fate of humankind (i.e. mortality)
3. 3. birth, ageing, illness and death

Components

• 生 shēng – to be born
• 老 lǎo – prefix used before the surname of a person or a numeral indicating the order of birth of the children in a family or to indicate affection or familiarity
• 病死 bìng sǐ – to fall ill and die

Related Words

• 悲欢离合生老病死 bēi huān lí hé shēng lǎo bìng sǐ – happiness, sadness, old-age, sickness, and death