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恩典 (ēn diǎn) — favor, grace (especially in religious or formal contexts)

Definition

A formal, often religious word for 'grace, favor' — a gift or kindness bestowed on someone, not earned. Closer in tone to 恩 (favor/kindness) than to everyday 好处.

noun
favorgrace (especially in religious or formal contexts)

Examples

  • 恩典。
    Shàng dì gěi le wǒ men xǔ duō ēn diǎn.
    God has given us much grace.
  • 恩典。
    Wǒ yǒng yuǎn bú huì wàng jì tā de ēn diǎn.
    I will never forget his kindness.
  • 恩典。
    Wǒ men quán jiā dōu gǎn xiè nín de ēn diǎn.
    Our whole family thanks you for your favor.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

恩ēnfavor
典diǎngrace

恩 and 典 both point to favor or grace, so the meaning is a gracious favor.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
心心xīnheart
Sound part声符shēngfú
因
因yīn恩ēn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

恩 puts 因, which gives the sound, beside 心, a heart.

Open 恩 →

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

  • 冊冊cèbooks
  • 丌丌qítable

典 puts 冊 (books) on a 丌 (table), showing official books resting on a table.

Open 典 →
Appears in
Religion & Belief

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