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化身 (huà shēn) — incarnation; embodiment; personification

Definition

Literary noun for the 'embodiment' or 'personification' of an abstract idea or quality (e.g. peace, courage). Used in writing and rhetoric, not everyday speech.

noun
incarnationembodimentpersonification

Examples

  • 化身。
    Tā shì cōng ming hé zhì huì de huà shēn.
    He is the embodiment of intelligence and wisdom.
  • 化身。
    Zhè bù xiǎo shuō lǐ de jué sè shì yǒng gǎn de huà shēn.
    The character in this novel is the personification of bravery.
  • 化身。
    Zhè zuò diāo xiàng shì hé píng de huà shēn.
    This statue is the incarnation of peace.

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.

化huàtransform
身shēnbody

A 身 (body) produced by 化 (transformation) is an incarnation.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

化 shows two person figures, one upright and one upside down, to give the idea of reversal or change.

Open 化 →

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

The shape of 身 comes from a drawing of a pregnant woman.

Open 身 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Mythology & FolkloreReligion & Belief

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