守护神 (shǒu hù shén) — guardian spirit, patron saint, protective deity

Definition

A spiritual being (deity, saint, or even a person/animal) that watches over and protects someone or something. Borrowed figuratively to mean a devoted protector or ‘guardian angel.’

noun
guardian spiritpatron saintprotective deity
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 守护神。
    Zhè zuò gǔ miào de shǒu hù shén shì guān gōng.
    The guardian spirit of this ancient temple is Guan Gong.
  • 守护神，。
    Tā de gǒu jiù xiàng tā de shǒu hù shén yí yàng, rì yè bù lí.
    His dog is like his guardian spirit, never leaving his side day or night.
  • ，守护神。
    Zài xī fāng wén huà lǐ, shèng tú cháng bèi shì wéi mǒu gè háng yè de shǒu hù shén.
    In Western culture, saints are often seen as the patron saints of certain trades.

Origin

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.

守护guard/protect
守shǒuguard护hùprotect
联合Side by side
神shéndeity

守护 means guard and protect, and 神 means spirit or deity, giving a deity who guards.

Characters in this word

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

  • 宀宀miánroof; building
  • 寸寸cùnhand

守 pairs 宀, a roof or building, with 寸, a hand, to show a hand guarding a place.

Open 守 →

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
扌Written in full as手shǒu
Sound part声符shēngfú
户
户hù护hù
Same sound today

护 combines 扌 (the hand form 手) with 户, which gives the sound hù.

Open 护 →

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
示示shìgod; deity
Sound part声符shēngfú
申
申shēn神shén
Same sound today

The older form 申 drew lightning, which the ancients regarded as divine; 神 adds 示 (god/deity) to mark that meaning.

Open 神 →
Appears in
Mythology & FolkloreReligion & Belief

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