宿命(しゅくめい)

Writing

宿(しゅく) (lodging, staying → predetermined) + 命(めい) (life, fate)
Literally: "predetermined life/fate"

Usage

宿命(しゅくめい) emphasizes that something was determined before birth or from the beginning - it's inescapable destiny. Often used in dramatic or literary contexts.
宿命(しゅくめい) is stronger than 運命(うんめい) - it suggests the outcome was absolutely fixed from the start.

Common patterns

• 宿命(しゅくめい)のライバル - fated rivals
• 宿命(しゅくめい)の対決(たいけつ) - destined showdown
• 宿命(しゅくめい)を受(う)け入(い)れる - to accept one's fate

Similar words

• 運命(うんめい) - fate, destiny (more general, can be changed)
• 天命(てんめい) - divine will, heaven's decree
• 定(さだ)め - fate, destiny (literary)
• 因縁(いんねん) - karma, fate (Buddhist connotation)

Register

Neutral to literary. Often used in dramatic narratives.