運命（うんめい、unmei）
- fate

The Japanese word 運命, read as うんめい (unmei), translates to "fate," "destiny," or "lot." It refers to a predetermined course of events, often considered inevitable and beyond one's control. It can also imply a person's predetermined lot in life or the overall sequence of events in their life. The word carries a sense of seriousness and often relates to significant or life-altering events.

⚫︎運命の人 Translation: The person of destiny; soulmate ⚫︎運命を変える Translation: To change fate/destiny ⚫︎運命を感じる Translation: To feel fate/destiny

You use 運命 when talking about the predetermined path of a person's life or events that seem unavoidable. It is often used in situations dealing with significant events like meeting someone special, experiencing a major life change, or facing a challenge that feels inescapable. It's suitable for both formal and informal conversations, but the context generally suggests something profound or significant.

運命 is typically written in kanji. The hiragana reading is うんめい. There are no common variations in how it is written. The kanji 運means "transport," "luck," or "fate," and 命means "life," "fate," or "command."

⚫︎ 宿命 (shukumei) - Fate; destiny (often implying a predetermined destiny) ⚫︎ 天命 (tenmei) - Heavenly decree; divine will; fate (often implying something ordained by a higher power) ⚫︎ 定め (sadame) - Fate; destiny; decision (can also mean a rule or regulation) ⚫︎ 巡り合わせ (meguriai) - Chance; coincidence; fate

While there aren't direct antonyms, concepts that suggest free will or control over one's life could be considered opposites, such as: ⚫︎ 自由 (jiyuu) - Freedom ⚫︎ 意思 (ishi) - Will ⚫︎ 選択 (sentaku) - Choice

二人は運命の赤い糸で結ばれていると信じている。 ・Translation: They believe they are connected by a red thread of fate. ・Explanation: This sentence uses 運命 to describe the bond between two people, implying their relationship is predetermined and destined.

彼は運命に逆らって、自分の人生を切り開いた。 ・Translation: He defied fate and forged his own path in life. ・Explanation: This sentence shows the conflict between 運命 and the individual's actions, where someone attempts to change or overcome their predetermined path.

The word 運命 is a compound word derived from Chinese. 運originally meant to "carry" or "transport," later evolving to mean "luck" or "chance." 命 means "life," "fate," or "command." Together, 運命 expresses the idea of the "fate of one's life" or the course of events.