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三星 (sān xīng) — (proper noun) Samsung (South Korean electronics conglomerate); (noun) the Three Stars / Three Immortals (福、禄、寿) in Chinese folklore

Definition

Literally 'three stars,' this word is now most familiar to learners as the name of the South Korean electronics company Samsung. In Chinese folklore it also names the Three Immortals (福、禄、寿) of fortune, prosperity, and longevity.

noun
(proper noun) Samsung (South Korean electronics conglomerate)the Three Stars / Three Immortals (福、禄、寿) in Chinese folklore

Examples

  • 三星。
    sān xīng Shǒu jī zài zhōng guó hěn yǒu míng.
    Samsung phones are very famous in China.
  • 三星。
    Tā jiā bǎi zhe fú lù shòu sān xīng.
    His home displays the three immortals of Fortune, Prosperity, and Longevity.
  • 三星。
    sān xīng Zài zhōng guó de shì chǎng fèn é hěn dà.
    Samsung has a large market share in China.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

三sānthree
星xīngstar

The name counts 三, three, 星, stars, giving the idea of three stars or the brand based on them.

Characters in this word

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

三 is drawn as three parallel strokes, like 一 with one stroke and 二 with two.

Open 三 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

The top of 星 is a later simplified form of 晶, twinkling stars; the bottom 生 shows the sound.

Open 星 →
Appears in
Business & CommerceMythology & Folklore

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