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受洗 (shòu xǐ) — to be baptized

Definition

A religious verb meaning 'to be baptized' — 受 marks the passive recipient of the rite, while 洗 refers to the act of baptism. Used in Christian contexts.

verb
to be baptized

Examples

  • 。
    Tā shòu le yí cì xǐ.
    He was baptized once.
  • 受洗。
    Tā zài jiào táng shòu xǐ.
    She was baptized at the church.
  • 受洗。
    Hěn duō rén yuàn yì shòu xǐ.
    Many people are willing to be baptized.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

受shòureceive
洗xǐwashing

受 means receive and 洗 means washing, so 受洗 is to receive baptism.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

受 possibly combines 爪 and 又 as hands with 舟 as a boat, to show handing something over.

Open 受 →

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

Meaning part形符xíngfú
水水shuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
先
先xiān洗xǐ
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

洗 is built from 水 (water) and 先, which gives the character its sound.

Open 洗 →
Appears in
Religion & Belief

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