使徒 (shǐ tú) — apostle; disciple (in Christianity)

Definition

noun

apostledisciple (in Christianity)

Measure word · 位

使徒。
Yē sū yǒu shí èr wèi shǐ tú.
Jesus had twelve apostles.
使徒。
Zhè xiē shǐ tú sì chù chuán bō fú yīn.
These apostles spread the gospel everywhere.
使徒。
Bǎo luó hòu lái yě chéng wéi le yí wèi shǐ tú.
Paul later also became an apostle.

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.

徒túfollower

'使' (sent) and '徒' (follower) give a sent disciple or apostle.

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.

亻吏使

Meaning part形符xíngfú

亻Written in full as人rén

Sound part声符shēngfú

吏

吏lì使shǐ

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

使 pairs 亻 (person) with 吏, which pictures a hand holding something like a flag, giving the sense of a representative or ambassador.

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

辵辵chuòwalk

Sound part声符shēngfú

土

Same sound today

徒 originally paired 辵, a walking sign, with 土 to show its sound. The shape later changed into 彳 and 走.

Appears in