1.
lifespan, life expectancy
The length of time a person or organism lives, or the expected duration of life.
日本人の平均寿命は長い。
The average lifespan of Japanese people is long.
医学の進歩で寿命が延びた。
Lifespans have increased due to advances in medicine.
健康寿命を延ばすことが大切だ。
It is important to extend healthy life expectancy.
2.
service life, useful life
The expected duration of functionality for machines, products, or other non-living things before they wear out or need replacement.
バッテリーの寿命が短い。
The battery life is short.
この製品の寿命は約十年だ。
The service life of this product is about ten years.
エアコンの寿命が来たので買い替えた。
The air conditioner reached the end of its life, so I replaced it.
USAGE:
寿命 is used for both living things and products/machines. When used for products, it functions similarly to English "lifespan" or "service life."
COLLOCATIONS:
- 平均寿命 — average lifespan
- 健康寿命 — healthy life expectancy
- 寿命が延びる — lifespan increases
- 寿命が縮む — lifespan shortens
- 寿命が来る — to reach end of life
CULTURAL NOTE:
Japan has one of the highest average lifespans in the world. The concept of 健康寿命 (healthy life expectancy) — years lived in good health, as opposed to total lifespan — has become an important topic in public health discussions.