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圣子 (Shèng zǐ) — Holy Son; Jesus Christ (in Christianity)

Definition

圣子 (Shèngzǐ) is the Christian theological title for Jesus Christ as the son of God, usually paired with 圣父 (God the Father) and 圣灵 (the Holy Spirit). It is a formal, religious term — not used in everyday speech.

noun
Holy SonJesus Christ (in Christianity)

Examples

  • ，圣子。
    Zài zhōng shì jì de jī dū jiào yì shù zhōng, Shèng zǐ de xíng xiàng cháng bèi miáo huì wèi shǒu chí shí zì jià.
    In medieval Christian art, the Holy Son is often depicted holding a cross.
  • 圣子。
    Xǔ duō xìn tú xiāng xìn Shèng zǐ shì shàng dì de dài biǎo.
    Many believers believe that the Holy Son is the representative of God.
  • 圣子。
    Zhè bù shén xué zhù zuò tàn tǎo le Shèng zǐ yǔ shèng fù de guān xì.
    This theological work discusses the relationship between the Holy Son and God the Father.

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shèngholy
子zǐson

圣 means holy and 子 means son, naming the Holy Son.

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 →

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

子 is drawn as a baby with a large head, arms stretched out, and legs wrapped in a blanket.

Open 子 →
Appears in
Religion & Belief

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