神医 (shén yī) — highly skilled doctor (often with miraculous abilities)

Definition

神医 (shényī) is a 'miracle doctor' — not a medical specialty but an honorific for a physician whose skill seems almost supernatural, often used in legends, classical literature, and praise.

noun
highly skilled doctor (often with miraculous abilities)

Examples

  • 神医。
    Xiāng chuán zhè wèi shén yī néng zhì bǎi bìng.
    Legend has it that this miracle doctor can cure all diseases.
  • 神医佗。
    Dà jiā dōu shuō nà wèi shén yī shì huà tuó zài shì.
    Everyone says that miracle doctor is a reincarnation of Hua Tuo.
  • ，神医。
    Zài gǔ dài, shén yī cháng cháng bèi shén huà.
    In ancient times, miracle doctors were often deified.

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shénmiraculous
医yīdoctor

神 (miraculous) and 医 (doctor) combine to mean a doctor with miraculous skill.

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 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 醫; 医 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
酉酉yǒuliquor
Sound part声符shēngfú
殹
殹yì醫yī
Same sound today

The traditional form 醫 pairs 酉 (liquor) with 殹 as a sound part; the simplified 医 is a shorthand, so its parts are not the historical ones.

Open 医 →

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