神人 (shén rén) — a person of extraordinary ability or wisdom; a godlike figure; (in mythology or religion) a deity or immortal being; gods and humans (collectively)

Definition

Refers to a godlike person — either a mythic deity/immortal or, figuratively, someone with extraordinary ability far beyond ordinary people. Often used hyperbolically to praise genius or superhuman skill.

noun
a person of extraordinary ability or wisdoma godlike figure(in mythology or religion) a deity or immortal beinggods and humans (collectively)

Examples

  • 神人，。
    Tā zài wéi qí jiè jiǎn zhí shì gè shén rén, méi rén néng yíng tā.
    He's practically a god in the Go world — no one can beat him.
  • ，神人。
    Gǔ dài chuán shuō zhōng, shén rén cháng cháng jiàng lín rén jiān bāng zhù fán rén.
    In ancient legends, immortals often descended to the human world to help mortals.
  • 神人，。
    Zhè wèi kē xué jiā bèi chēng wéi shén rén, yīn wèi tā de fā míng gǎi biàn le shì jiè.
    This scientist is called a god because his inventions changed the world.

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.

神shéndivine
人rénperson

“神” (divine) + “人” (person) suggests a person with godlike ability.

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
示示shìgod; deity
Sound part声符shēngfú
申
申shēn神shén
Same sound today

The older form 申 drew lightning, which the ancients regarded as divine; 神 adds 示 (god/deity) to mark that meaning.

Open 神 →

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

The shape of 人 shows a side view of a standing person, with an arm and a leg.

Open 人 →

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