- 生死有命 shēngsǐyǒumìng life and death are ruled by fateLife and death are determined by destiny, often specifically referring to the first half of the couplet [[生死有命，富贵在天|生死有命，富貴在天|sheng1 si3 you3 ming4 fu4 gui4 zai4 tian1]]
- 死生有命 sǐshēngyǒumìng life and death are fatedLife and death are predetermined by destiny; human effort cannot change one's fate.
- 穷达有命 qióngdáyǒumìng failure or success is fatedFailure and poverty or success and high status are all determined by fate; the course of one's life is decreed by heaven.
- 死生有命，富贵在天 sǐshēngyǒumìngfùguìzàitiān fate is predeterminedlife and death are a matter of destiny, wealth and honor depend on heaven
- 生死有命，富贵在天 shēngsǐyǒumìngfùguìzàitiān life and death are predestinedlife and death are determined by fate, wealth and honor depend on heaven; a fatalistic outlook on one's destiny and worldly success
