a lifetime
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 a lifetime、one’s whole life
This expression refers to the full span of a person’s life, or to something continuing from a particular point until death. It commonly modifies an action or state, but it can also refer to a lifetime as a period.
a lifetime、one’s whole life
It refers to the entire duration of a person’s life, viewed as one span of time.
Learning notes
Explanation
ตลอดชีวิต is formed from ตลอด, meaning “throughout” or “all the way through,” and ชีวิต, meaning “life.” Its most common use is to modify an action or state. In a past-oriented sentence, it can mean “from birth until now”; in a future-oriented sentence, it can mean “from now until death.” The pattern verb + มา + ตลอดชีวิต emphasizes continuation from the past up to the present. It can also function as a time expression referring to a lifetime as a whole, as in ตลอดชีวิตของเขา, “throughout his life.”
Usage
It is common in promises of lifelong love, accounts of someone’s career or habits, and explanations of treatment or medication that must continue for life. It works naturally in both everyday conversation and formal writing.
Caution
This is stronger than simply saying “for a long time”: it normally covers an entire lifetime or the period remaining until death. For a limited period, use a specific expression such as ตลอดวัน “all day” or ตลอดปี “all year.”