圣恩 (shèng ēn) — imperial favor, royal grace

Definition

Literary/archaic term for 'imperial favor' — the grace or benevolence bestowed by an emperor. Found in historical texts, not everyday speech.

noun

imperial favorroyal grace

圣恩。
Dà chén men guì xiè shèng ēn.
The ministers knelt to thank the emperor's favor.
圣恩，。
shèng ēn Hào dàng, bǎi xìng gǎn ēn dài dé.
The imperial grace was vast, and the people felt deep gratitude.
圣恩。
Tā yīn zhàn gōng ér méng shòu shèng ēn.
He received imperial favor for his military achievements.

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 or imperial

圣 conveys sacred or imperial and 恩 conveys favor, so the term means imperial grace.

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

Sound part声符shēngfú

呈

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.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

因心恩

Meaning part形符xíngfú

心心xīnheart

Sound part声符shēngfú

因

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

恩 puts 因, which gives the sound, beside 心, a heart.

Appears in