Life in Japanese Calligraphy — 19 Hand-Brushed Designs

人生 (jinsei)

The Japanese word 人生 meaning "Life" is composed of the kanji 人 (read jin) meaning "person" and 生 (read sei) meaning "life; birth".

Japanese has a few words for "Life". jinsei refers to one's life and is specific. For example it is used when saying "My life has been good". It is not used in the abstract so one would not use jinsei in things like "gamble with one's life", "searching for life on mars" or "life insurance".

Verify: 人生 in the Japanese-English Dictionary

Life (人生) in Block style Japanese calligraphy by Eri Takase

Life 人生 jinsei Block Vertical VB2C

Life 人生 jinsei Block Vertical VB3A

Life 人生 jinsei Block Vertical VB3B

Life (人生) in Cursive style Japanese calligraphy by Eri Takase

Life 人生 jinsei Cursive Vertical VC3A

Life 人生 jinsei Cursive Vertical VC3B

Life (人生) in Design style Japanese calligraphy by Eri Takase

Life 人生 jinsei Design Vertical VD3A

Life (人生) in Semi-Cursive style Japanese calligraphy by Eri Takase

Life 人生 jinsei Semi-Cursive Vertical VS3A

Life 人生 jinsei Semi-Cursive Vertical VS3B

Life 人生 jinsei Semi-Cursive Vertical VS3C

Life 人生 jinsei Semi-Cursive Vertical VS3D

Life 人生 jinsei Block Horizontal HB2A

Life 人生 jinsei Cursive Horizontal HC3A

Life 人生 jinsei Semi-Cursive Horizontal HS3A

命 (inochi)

The Japanese word inochi means "life" or "one's life". These samples are true to the kanji for life and can be used by itself. We also offer more stylized designs for inochi3 that are designed to allow space to accommodate a name.