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神圣 (shén shèng) — (adj) holy, sacred (religious: temples, scriptures, rituals); (adj) sacred, inviolable (secular: duties, rights, territory)

Definition

Used for things treated with the highest reverence — religious sites, duties, rights. Stronger and more solemn than 经典 in its 'classic, exemplary' sense.

adjective
(adj) holysacred (religious: temples, scriptures, rituals)(adj) sacredinviolable (secular: duties, rights, territory)

Examples

  • 神圣。
    Zhè zuò jiào táng shì dāng dì rén xīn zhōng zuì shén shèng de dì fāng.
    This church is the most sacred place in the locals' hearts.
  • 神圣。
    Bǎo hù guó jiā lǐng tǔ shì jūn rén de shén shèng zhí zé.
    Protecting national territory is a soldier's sacred duty.
  • 神圣。
    Měi gè rén de shēng mìng dōu shì shén shèng bù kě qīn fàn de.
    Every person's life is sacred and inviolable.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

神shéndivine
圣shèngholy

神 and 圣 both carry a sense of sacredness.

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 聖; 圣 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
耳耳ěrear
Sound part声符shēngfú
呈
呈chéng聖shèng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 聖 puts 耳 (ear) beside 呈, which gives the sound; the simplified 圣 is a shorthand, and its parts are not the historical parts.

Open 圣 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9HSK 2.0 Level 6Religion & Belief5000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

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