寿 命(じゅみょう)

じゅみょう

noun

lifespan, life expectancy

1. lifespan, life expectancy

The length of time a person or organism lives, or the expected duration of life.

日本人(にほんじん)の平均(へいきん)寿命(じゅみょう)は長(なが)い。

The average lifespan of Japanese people is long.

医学(いがく)の進歩(しんぽ)で寿命(じゅみょう)が延(の)びた。

Lifespans have increased due to advances in medicine.

健康(けんこう)寿命(じゅみょう)を延(の)ばすことが大切(たいせつ)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(じゅみょう)が短(みじか)い。

The battery life is short.

この製品(せいひん)の寿命(じゅみょう)は約(やく)十年(じゅうねん)だ。

The service life of this product is about ten years.

エアコンの寿命(じゅみょう)が来(き)たので買(か)い替(か)えた。

The air conditioner reached the end of its life, so I replaced it.

Usage

寿命(じゅみょう) is used for both living things and products/machines. When used for products, it functions similarly to English "lifespan" or "service life."

Common collocations

平均(へいきん)寿命(じゅみょう) — average lifespan
健康(けんこう)寿命(じゅみょう) — healthy life expectancy
寿命(じゅみょう)が延(の)びる — lifespan increases
寿命(じゅみょう)が縮(ちぢ)む — lifespan shortens
寿命(じゅみょう)が来(く)る — to reach end of life

Cultural note

Japan has one of the highest average lifespans in the world. The concept of 健康(けんこう)寿命(じゅみょう) (healthy life expectancy) — years lived in good health, as opposed to total lifespan — has become an important topic in public health discussions.

Related Words

Related: 生命(せいめい) (life)

Related: 命(いのち) (life, fate)

Related: 長生(ながい)き (long life, longevity)

Compare: 耐用年数(たいようねんすう) (service life)

Compare: 長命(ちょうめい) (long life)

general

Added 2026.2.21 14:24 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01

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