life's work
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life's work
The entirety of the significant works and achievements that a person has created over the course of their life, especially in a professional or creative field.
Das Museum widmet dem Lebenswerk des Architekten eine umfassende Retrospektive.
The museum is dedicating a comprehensive retrospective to the architect's life's work.
The word is made up of 'das Leben' (life), the linking element '-s-', and 'das Werk' (work). So it literally means 'the work of a life'.
Er betrachtete den Aufbau seiner Firma als sein Lebenswerk.
He regarded building his company as his life's work.
'Lebenswerk' (life's work) is often used with a possessive pronoun ('sein/ihr Lebenswerk' — his/her life's work) or a genitive ('das Lebenswerk eines Künstlers' — the life's work of an artist). Typical verbs are 'vollenden' (to complete), 'schaffen' (to create), or 'zerstören' (to destroy).
Die Ausstellung zeigt das beeindruckende Lebenswerk der Malerin.
The exhibition shows the painter's impressive life's work.
'Lebenswerk' (life's work) is a word with an elevated, respectful style. It is not used for everyday work, but for a person's entire significant achievement, often in the fields of art, science, or entrepreneurship.
Die Forschung des Nobelpreisträgers gilt als sein Lebenswerk.
The Nobel Prize winner's research is considered his life's work.
plant / work
'das Werk' and 'das Lebenswerk' can both refer to a person's works. 'das Werk' can refer to the complete body of work of an artist, writer, or composer. 'das Lebenswerk' places stronger emphasis on a person's whole life and their important achievements over many years. Learners may confuse the words because both can point to several works by one person. 'Werk' is more neutral and can also be used for individual works. 'Lebenswerk' is used more when honoring a major achievement at the end of, or in retrospect on, a life.
Bei der Feier wurde der Professor für sein Lebenswerk geehrt.
At the ceremony, the professor was honored for his life's work.
Das Werk der Malerin umfasst viele Bilder aus ihrer Heimatstadt.
The painter's works include many pictures of her hometown.