圣堂 (shèng táng) — sanctuary (in a Christian church, especially Catholic)

Definition

In Catholic usage, 圣堂 refers specifically to the sanctuary — the main worship hall of a church, not the church building as a whole. Distinct from the more general 教堂 ('church').

noun
sanctuary (in a Christian church, especially Catholic)

Examples

  • 圣堂。
    Wǒ měi gè xīng qī tiān qù shèng táng qí dǎo.
    I go to the sanctuary to pray every Sunday.
  • 圣堂。
    Zhè zuò shèng táng yǒu yì bǎi duō nián lì shǐ le.
    This sanctuary has a history of over a hundred years.
  • 圣堂。
    Wǒ xǐ huan zài shèng táng lǐ jìng zuò.
    I like to sit quietly in the sanctuary.

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.

圣shèngsacred
堂tánghall

圣 means sacred and 堂 means hall, together naming a sacred hall.

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.

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 →

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
土土tǔ
Sound part声符shēngfú
尚
尚shàng堂táng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

堂 uses 土 as a ground/earth part and 尚 for sound.

Open 堂 →

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