TongTong
Sign in

星象 (xīng xiàng) — (astronomy) apparent positions and brightness of celestial bodies; star patterns; (astrology) configuration of stars and planets interpreted for divination; horoscope

Definition

Covers both the astronomical observation of stars and planets (positions, brightness) and their astrological interpretation for fortune-telling. Use the astronomy sense for science, the astrology sense for divination.

noun
(astronomy) apparent positions and brightness of celestial bodiesstar patterns(astrology) configuration of stars and planets interpreted for divinationhoroscope

Examples

  • 星象。
    Gǔ rén tōng guò guān chá xīng xiàng lái yù cè tiān qì hé nóng shí.
    Ancient people observed celestial phenomena to predict weather and farming seasons.
  • 星象。
    Zhān xīng jiā rèn wéi jīn tiān de xīng xiàng duì cái yùn yǒu lì.
    Astrologers believe today's star configuration is favorable for financial luck.
  • 星象，。
    Tā cóng xiǎo jiù duì xīng xiàng gǎn xìng qù, hòu lái chéng le tiān wén xué jiā.
    He has been interested in celestial phenomena since childhood and later became an astronomer.

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.

星xīngstar
象xiàngappearance

星 means star and 象 means appearance, together naming the visible patterns of stars.

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.

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

Open 星 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

象 is drawn as an elephant, with a long trunk, a head, and a big body.

Open 象 →
Appears in
Sky & Space

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.