寿星 (shòu xīng) — god of longevity (a Chinese mythological figure…

Definition

寿星 has two distinct meanings: the mythological God of Longevity (one of the 三星), and, colloquially, the birthday person being celebrated that day.

noun

god of longevity (a Chinese mythological figure)birthday person (the one being honored on their birthday)

Measure word · 位

寿星。
shòu xīng Shì zhōng guó de fú lù shòu sān xīng zhī yī.
The God of Longevity is one of the three stars of Fortune, Prosperity, and Longevity in China.
，寿星。
Jīn tiān shì yé ye de shēng rì, tā shì jīn tiān de shòu xīng.
Today is Grandpa's birthday; he's the birthday person today.
。
Dà jiā dōu zhù shòu xīng jiàn kāng cháng shòu.
Everyone wishes the birthday person health and longevity.

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.

寿shòulongevity

Longevity star names the god of long life or the birthday person.

Characters in this word

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 壽; 寿 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 壽 uses 耂 for old and a sound part 𢏚, plus added decorative marks; the simplified 寿 is a later shorthand.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

The top of 星 is a later simplified form of 晶, twinkling stars; the bottom 生 shows the sound.

Appears in