圣殿 (shèng diàn) — holy place, sanctuary, temple

Definition

noun

holy placesanctuarytemple

Measure word · 座

圣殿，。
Zhè zuò shèng diàn jiàn yú liǎng qiān nián qián, zhì jīn yī rán bǎo cún wán hǎo.
This sanctuary was built two thousand years ago and is still well preserved today.
圣殿。
Cháo shèng zhě bù yuǎn qiān lǐ lái zhè zuò shèng diàn qí dǎo.
Pilgrims travel thousands of miles to pray at this holy place.
圣殿。
Kǎo gǔ xué jiā zài shā mò zhōng fā jué chū yí zuò gǔ lǎo de shèng diàn.
Archaeologists excavated an ancient temple in the desert.

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.

圣殿 combines 圣 meaning holy with 殿 meaning hall or palace, giving a holy 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

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

殳殳shūhand holding a weapon

Sound part声符shēngfú

𡱂

臀tún殿⁰diàn

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

殿 pairs 𡱂 (buttocks, giving the sound) with 殳 (a hand holding a weapon) to show hitting the buttocks.

Appears in