noun, noun or participle which takes 'suru', intransitive verb
Buddhist rebirth in the next life; passing on to the next life
Buddhist use, especially for being reborn in another realm such as the Pure Land; used as 往生する.
浄土に往生することを願って念仏を唱えた。
They chanted nenbutsu prayers hoping to be reborn in the Pure Land.
noun, noun or participle which takes 'suru', intransitive verb
Nontechnical extension meaning death or passing away; in modern use it is especially familiar in compounds such as 大往生 for a peaceful death at an advanced age.
祖父は九十五歳で大往生した。
My grandfather died peacefully at the age of ninety-five.
noun, noun or participle which takes 'suru', intransitive verb
give up the struggle; submit; give in
Idiomatic use for stopping resistance after being cornered or persuaded; often has an old-fashioned or rough conversational feel.
犯人はとうとう往生して、罪を認めた。
The culprit finally gave in and admitted his crime.
noun, noun or participle which takes 'suru', intransitive verb
be at one's wits' end; be stumped; be flummoxed
Used as 往生する when one is unable to cope with an unexpected problem, question, or situation; distinct from the death sense.
急な質問に往生した。
I was stumped by the sudden question.
noun
Rare noun sense, linked to 圧状; chiefly dictionary-like or historical rather than a normal modern use of 往生.
See also: 圧状
古い資料では、往生が「強制」や「威圧」の意味で挙げられることがある。
In older materials, 往生 is sometimes listed with the meaning of coercion or intimidation.