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圣洁 (shèng jié) — holy and pure, sacred

Definition

A formal, literary adjective for something 'holy and pure,' typically used for sacred spaces, spirits, or ideals. It is more elevated in register than plain 纯洁, which is the everyday word for 'pure.'

adjective
holy and puresacred

Examples

  • 圣洁。
    Zhè zuò jiào táng chōng mǎn le shèng jié de qì fen.
    This church is filled with a holy atmosphere.
  • 圣洁，。
    Tā de xīn líng wú bǐ shèng jié, lìng rén jìng pèi.
    Her soul is incomparably pure, inspiring admiration.
  • ，圣洁。
    Zài xìn tú xīn zhōng, nà piàn tǔ dì shì shèng jié de.
    In the believers' hearts, that land is holy.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

圣shèngholy
洁jiépure

“圣” means holy and “洁” means pure, so the word describes something sacred and clean.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 潔; 洁 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
氵Written in full as水shuǐwater
Sound part声符shēngfú
絜
絜jié潔jié
Same sound today

The traditional form 潔 pairs 氵, a water part, with 絜, which gives the sound; the simplified 洁 is a later abbreviation.

Open 洁 →
Appears in
Religion & Belief

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