1Life or existence; the fact of being alive, as possessed by living things.
どんな小さな生命にも価値がある。
Even the smallest life has value.
その手術は彼の生命を救うために行われた。
The operation was performed to save his life.
火星に生命が存在するかどうか、長年研究されている。
Whether life exists on Mars has been studied for many years.
環境破壊は多くの生命を脅かしている。
Environmental destruction is threatening many lives.
2(suffix) One's professional lifespan or career, as in 選手生命 (athletic career), 政治生命 (political career).
度重なるけがで、彼の選手生命は終わりを迎えた。
With repeated injuries, his career as an athlete came to an end.
スキャンダルが政治生命に致命的な打撃を与えた。
The scandal dealt a fatal blow to his political career.
3Vital energy or essence — the vigor and life-like quality found in a work or activity.
この文章には作者の生命が感じられる。
You can feel the author's vital essence in this piece of writing.
新鮮さこそが料理の生命だと料理人は語った。
The chef said that freshness is the very essence of cooking.