救命之恩 (jiù mìng zhī ēn) — the life-saving grace; the kindness of saving someone's life (used to express profound gratitude)

Definition

A formal idiom for the life-saving grace one owes someone who saved their life. Used in deeply grateful, often written contexts, not in casual thanks.

idiom
the life-saving gracethe kindness of saving someone's life (used to express profound gratitude)

Examples

  • 救命之恩。
    Wǒ duì tā de jiù mìng zhī ēn yǒng yuǎn míng jì zài xīn.
    I will always remember his life-saving grace.
  • ，救命之恩。
    Tā jiù le nà ge luò shuǐ ér tóng, hái zi fù mǔ gǎn jī tā de jiù mìng zhī ēn.
    He saved that drowning child, and the child's parents are grateful for his life-saving kindness.
  • 救命之恩，。
    Zhè fèn jiù mìng zhī ēn, wǒ cǐ shēng nán yǐ bào dá.
    This life-saving grace is hard for me to repay in this lifetime.

Origin

Characters in this word

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
攴攴pū
Sound part声符shēngfú
求
求qiú救jiù
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

In 救, 求 gives the sound, and 攴 is the action part.

Open 救 →

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
口口kǒumouth
Sound part声符shēngfú
令
令lìng命mìng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

命 combines 口, a mouth, with 令, which gives the sound.

Open 命 →

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

The shape pairs 止, a foot, with 一, a beginning place, and means to go.

Open 之 →

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
心心xīnheart
Sound part声符shēngfú
因
因yīn恩ēn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

恩 puts 因, which gives the sound, beside 心, a heart.

Open 恩 →

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