1. the length of time that a person lives or a thing exists
一個人一生或一個事物存在的時間長度
He dedicated his lifetime to scientific research.
他將一生奉獻給了科學研究。
The average human lifetime has increased over the last century.
上個世紀以來，人類的平均壽命已經延長了。
Lifetime Meaning（定義、用法、例句與發音）
lifetime
noun
快速理解
What does "Lifetime" mean?What are 2-3 core uses of "Lifetime"?
指一個人的一生或某事物的存在期間。
- 1
人的一生
EN: the duration of a person's life
翻譯: 指一個人從出生到死亡的整個時間段。
- 2
事物的存在期
EN: the period during which something exists or functions
翻譯: 指某物（如產品、制度、關係）從開始到結束的整個有效期間。
- 3
終身的
EN: lasting for a lifetime
翻譯: 作為形容詞，形容持續一生或事物整個存在期間的狀態。
- 4
一生一次的機會
EN: a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity
翻譯: 常用於形容極其罕見、一生可能只會遇到一次的寶貴機會。
小提醒：注意 'lifetime' 常與所有格連用（如 his lifetime, the product's lifetime），表示「某人的一生」或「某物的使用期」。
發音（How to Pronounce "Lifetime" in English）
How to pronounce "Lifetime" in English?"Lifetime" US vs UK pronunciation
點擊下方的 US / UK 按鈕可播放發音。
Real-life Examples of "Lifetime" from YouTube Videos
Consume Information That Encourages You To Do More - Dalton Caldwell
Y Combinator
“the vast, vast, vast, vast, vast majority of successful founders that we funded at YC have effectively no presence whatsoever, especially not in the early stages, right, especially not in the first five or six years of the lifetime of their company, and that kind of exposing yourself to all that noise or putting a lot of energy into establishing thought leadership can be a huge distraction from doing what really matters, of making your company work.”
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Definitions（定義）
What are the definitions of "Lifetime"?How does "Lifetime" change by context?
2. the duration of a particular situation, relationship, or thing's usefulness
特定情況、關係或事物有用性的持續期間
The warranty covers the product for its expected lifetime.
保固期涵蓋了產品的預期使用壽命。
The political alliance lasted for the lifetime of the treaty.
這個政治聯盟持續了條約的有效期。
3. used to emphasize the extreme nature of an experience or opportunity
用於強調某種經歷或機會的極端性質
It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see the rare comet.
能看到那顆罕見的彗星是千載難逢的機會。
Winning the championship was the achievement of a lifetime.
贏得冠軍是一生中最大的成就。
Grammar & Patterns（句型）
What are common sentence patterns for "Lifetime"?How to make natural sentences with "Lifetime"?
| Pattern | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| a lifetime | 一生的時間 | It took him a lifetime to build this collection. (他花了一生的時間建立這套收藏。) |
| within/in one's lifetime | 在某人的有生之年 | I hope to see humans on Mars in my lifetime. (我希望在我的有生之年能看到人類登上火星。) |
| the chance/opportunity of a lifetime | 一生難得的機會 | Working on that project was the opportunity of a lifetime. (參與那個專案是一生難得的機會。) |
| a lifetime of + noun | 一生的… | She has a lifetime of experience in the field. (她在這個領域有一生的經驗。) |
| last/endure a lifetime | 持續一生 | A well-made product should last a lifetime. (一個製作精良的產品應該能持續一生。) |
| for a lifetime | 終身 | This decision will affect you for a lifetime. (這個決定將影響你終身。) |
用法說明
How is "Lifetime" different from similar structures?What usage mistakes are common with "Lifetime"?
lifetime 與 a lifetime
- lifetime 作為不可數名詞時，泛指抽象的「一生、終身」概念，強調時間的長度或性質。
- a lifetime 作為可數名詞時，指具體的「一段人生、一輩子」，常與所有格（如
my,her）或描述性詞語連用，指特定的人或事物的生命期。 - 在許多固定搭配中（如
lifetime achievement,lifetime warranty），通常使用不可數形式 lifetime。 - 當談論需要「花費一生時間」的任務或機會時，常用 a lifetime，例如
It would take a lifetime to...。
對比例句： EN: She dedicated her life to research, a lifetime of work. 翻譯: 她將一生奉獻給研究，那是終身的工作。
EN:It felt like waiting for a lifetime for the results.
翻譯:感覺像是等了一輩子才等到結果。
總結建議
一般情況下，當泛指「一生」概念或用於固定片語時用 lifetime，而指具體「一段人生」或強調「漫長的時間」時則用 a lifetime。
易混淆對比
What is the difference between "Lifetime" and similar words?How to choose "Lifetime" vs alternatives?
lifetime vs lifespan
「lifetime」強調個人經歷或事物存在的整個時期，常帶有主觀或情感色彩；「lifespan」則較客觀，指生物或物品從誕生到結束的預期或實際持續時間。
lifetime vs career
「lifetime」指一個人的整個生命歷程；「career」則特指職業生涯或專業發展的時期，範圍較窄。
lifetime vs era
「lifetime」通常指個人的一生；「era」則指歷史上具有共同特徵的較長時期，通常超越個人生命。
口語用法
How is "Lifetime" used in spoken English?What is the spoken vs formal difference for "Lifetime"?
引述
在口語中，常用來引述或轉述一個常見的說法或格言。 EN: You know what they say, a dog is a lifetime commitment. 翻譯: 你知道大家常說的，養狗是一輩子的承諾。
EN:As the old saying goes, "A teacher affects a lifetime."
翻譯:就像那句老話說的：「一位老師影響一個人的一生。」
語氣強調
用來強調某件事的持續時間極長，或與個人生命等長，帶有強烈的主觀感受。 EN: I swear, waiting for the bus felt like a lifetime! 翻譯: 我發誓，等那班公車感覺像等了一輩子那麼久！
EN:This is the lifetime opportunity I've been telling you about.
翻譯:這就是我跟你提過的那個千載難逢的機會。
停頓填充
在思考或組織語言時，作為短暫的停頓填充詞，引出後續的解釋或例子。 EN: It's a... lifetime of memories, you know, from childhood to now. 翻譯: 那是…一輩子的回憶，你知道的，從童年到現在。
EN:The project requires a... lifetime of dedication, more than just a few years.
翻譯:這個計畫需要…一生的投入，不只是幾年而已。
正式寫作注意：在正式或學術寫作中，應避免將 "lifetime" 用於誇張的語氣強調或作為停頓填充。建議使用更精確的詞彙，如 "an entire life"、"a long-term" 或 "a permanent" 來替代口語化的表達，以保持文章的嚴謹性。
常見短語
What common collocations use "Lifetime"?What fixed phrases with "Lifetime" should I remember?
lifetime achievement
noun + noun
終身成就
once in a lifetime
idiom
一生一次，千載難逢
lifetime supply
noun + of + noun
終身供應
lifetime membership
noun + noun
終身會員資格
lifetime guarantee
noun + noun
終身保固
a lifetime of experience
a + noun + of + noun
一生的經驗
lifetime opportunity
noun + noun
一生難得的機會
in one's lifetime
prepositional phrase
在某人的一生中
常見錯誤
What are common mistakes with "Lifetime"?Which "Lifetime" sentences look correct but are wrong?
×I have a lifetime to finish this project.
✓I have a lifetime to finish this project.
The sentence is grammatically correct but conceptually misleading. 'A lifetime' implies an entire lifespan, which is excessive for a single project. It's better to use a more specific time frame.
×This is the chance of a lifetime.
✓This is the chance of a lifetime.
The phrase is correct but often misused. Learners might use it for minor opportunities. It should be reserved for truly unique, once-in-a-lifetime opportunities.
×He spent his lifetime on helping others.
✓He spent his lifetime helping others.
The preposition 'on' is unnecessary and incorrect after 'spent his lifetime'. The correct pattern is 'spend time [verb-ing]' or 'spend time on [noun]'.
×In my lifetime, I have never seen such a beautiful painting.
✓In my lifetime, I have never seen such a beautiful painting.
The sentence is grammatically correct but often used illogically by learners for recent or common experiences. 'In my lifetime' emphasizes the span of one's entire life, so it should be used for truly rare or unprecedented events.
×She got a lifetime achievement award for her work in this company.
✓She received a lifetime achievement award for her work.
While 'got' is informally understood, 'received' or 'was awarded' is more formal and appropriate for prestigious honors like a 'lifetime achievement award'. Also, 'for her work in this company' might be too specific; such awards usually recognize a career spanning multiple organizations or a lifelong contribution to a field.
詞形變化
What are the word forms of "Lifetime"?What are tense/participle forms of "Lifetime"?