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威灵 (wēi líng) — divine majesty; awe-inspiring power (of deities); the dignified presence and authority of gods or spirits

Definition

Literary term for the awe-inspiring majesty and authority of gods or spirits. Almost always used to describe divine or supernatural power, not human authority.

noun
divine majestyawe-inspiring power (of deities)the dignified presence and authority of gods or spirits

Examples

  • 威灵，。
    Zhè zuò sì miào gòng fèng de shén líng wēi líng wú biān, xìn tú men qián lái qí fú.
    The deities worshipped in this temple have boundless awe-inspiring power, and believers come to pray.
  • 威灵。
    Gǔ dài dì wáng cháng yǐ jì sì lái tǐ xiàn duì tiān dì wēi líng de jìng wèi.
    Ancient emperors often performed sacrifices to show reverence for the awe-inspiring power of heaven and earth.
  • ，威灵，。
    Zài shén huà chuán shuō zhōng, měi wèi shén líng dōu yǒu dú tè de wēi líng, lìng rén sù rán qǐ jìng.
    In myths and legends, every deity has a unique awe-inspiring presence that commands respect.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

威wēiawe
灵língspirit

威 and 灵 combine to express awe and spiritual efficacy, giving divine majesty and power.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

威 is made by combining 戌 and 女.

Open 威 →

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 靈; 灵 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
玉玉yùjade
Sound part声符shēngfú
霝
霝líng靈líng
Same sound today

This note describes the traditional form 靈, not the simplified 灵: 霝 gives the sound, and 玉 (jade) is the meaning part.

Open 灵 →
Appears in
Religion & Belief

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