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得救 (dé jiù) — to be saved (from danger, disaster, etc.); (Christianity) to obtain salvation; to be redeemed

Definition

Literally 'obtain rescue': to be saved from danger or, in Christian theology, to receive salvation. Refers to the moment of being delivered, not an ongoing state.

verb
to be saved (from danger, disaster, etc.)(Christianity) to obtain salvationto be redeemed

Examples

  • 得救。
    Tā zài huǒ zāi zhōng dé jiù le.
    He was saved from the fire.
  • ，。
    Tā dé le jiù, xīn lǐ chōng mǎn le gǎn jī.
    He got saved, and his heart was filled with gratitude.
  • 得救。
    Jī dū tú xiāng xìn xìn yē sū jiù néng dé jiù.
    Christians believe that believing in Jesus brings salvation.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

得déobtain
救jiùrescue

得 means obtain, and 救 is the rescue or salvation obtained.

Characters in this word

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

The old form 㝵 showed a hand picking up a cowry, meaning to obtain; later changes turned that picture into 得.

Open 得 →

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
攴攴pū
Sound part声符shēngfú
求
求qiú救jiù
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

In 救, 求 gives the sound, and 攴 is the action part.

Open 救 →
Appears in
Religion & BeliefSafety & Danger

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