Dictionary / Vocabulary / 生前
せいぜん
while alive; during one's lifetime
common word
彼は生前は偉大な政治家であった。
He was a great statesman in life.
彼は生前は偉大な作曲家とは認められなかった。
He wasn't recognized as a great writer until after his death.
生前に無名であった多くの偉大な思想家は、死後に名声を得た。
Many great thinkers who were unknown while alive became famous after death.