せいぜん
while alive; during one's lifetime
Common word
Noun, Adverb
彼かれは生前せいぜんは偉大いだいな政治家せいじかであった。
He was a great statesman in life.
彼かれは生前せいぜんは偉大いだいな作曲家さっきょくかとは認みとめられなかった。
He wasn't recognized as a great writer until after his death.
生前せいぜんに無名むめいであった多おおくの偉大いだいな思想家しそうかは、死後しごに名声めいせいを得えた。
Many great thinkers who were unknown while alive became famous after death.