神韵 (shén yùn) — the spiritual charm, poetic resonance (of a person or work of art)

Definition

A literary term for the intangible spiritual charm or poetic resonance of a work of art, performance, or person — the subtle, hard-to-pin-down quality that makes it feel alive and evocative.

noun
the spiritual charmpoetic resonance (of a person or work of art)

Examples

  • 神韵。
    Tā de shū fǎ zuò pǐn chōng mǎn le shén yùn.
    His calligraphy works are full of spiritual charm.
  • ，神韵。
    Zhè wèi huà jiā bǐ xià de shān shuǐ, shén yùn shí zú.
    The landscapes painted by this artist are full of poetic charm.
  • 神韵，。
    Tā de biǎo yǎn yǒu yì zhǒng dú tè de shén yùn, lìng rén nán wàng.
    Her performance has a unique spiritual aura that is unforgettable.

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shénspirit/divinity
韵yùncharm/resonance

“神” contributes spirit or divinity, and “韵” contributes charm or resonance, together naming an ineffable appeal.

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 韻; 韵 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
音音yīn
Sound part声符shēngfú
員
員yuán韻yùn
Same sound today

The traditional form 韻 pairs 音, meaning sound, with 員 to give its sound; the simplified 韵 is a later shorthand, not made of those original parts.

Open 韵 →

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