Life or existence; the state of being alive (the life of living beings).
地球上の生命は多様な形で存在している。
Life on Earth exists in diverse forms.
医師たちは必死に彼の生命を救おうとした。
The doctors desperately tried to save his life.
その発見は生命の起源に関わる重要なものだ。
That discovery is important for the origin of life.
Used as a suffix to mean one's working life or career span (e.g., athlete's career).
あの選手は大怪我で選手生命が絶たれてしまった。
That athlete's career was ended by a severe injury.
不祥事で彼は記者生命を失った。
He lost his career as a journalist because of the scandal.
Life force, vitality, or the essence/soul of living beings (occasionally read as いのち).
森に入ると、豊かな生命の息吹を感じる。
When you enter the forest, you feel the rich breath of life.
その彫刻には強い生命が宿っているようだ。
That sculpture seems to hold a strong vitality.