圣手 (shèng shǒu) — virtuoso; master of a skill

Definition

noun

virtuosomaster of a skill

Measure word · 位

圣手。
Zhè wèi shū fǎ jiā bèi chēng wéi dāng dài de shū fǎ shèng shǒu.
This calligrapher is called a contemporary master of calligraphy.
，圣手。
Zài zhōng yī jiè, lǐ dài fu shì yí wèi wén míng quán guó de shèng shǒu.
In the field of traditional Chinese medicine, Doctor Li is a nationally renowned master.
，圣手。
Tā de qí yì gāo chāo, kān chēng wéi qí shèng shǒu.
His chess skills are superb; he can be called a Go grandmaster.

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 sage and 手 hand combine for a masterful hand or skilled expert.

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.

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

手 draws a five-fingered human hand: the top line is a bent middle finger, and the horizontal lines show the other four fingers.