死神 (Sǐ shén) — the Grim Reaper; Death (personified) | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

The Chinese personification of Death, like the 'Grim Reaper' in English. A literary/cultural term — it can be used with the definite article ('the Grim Reaper') because it is treated as a named figure, not a generic concept of dying.

noun

the Grim ReaperDeath (personified)

Measure word · 个

Examples

死神。
Rén men dōu hěn hài pà Sǐ shén.
People are all very afraid of the Grim Reaper.
，死神。
Zài màn huà lǐ, Sǐ shén cháng cháng shì yí gè chuān hēi yī fu de rén.
In comics, Death is often a person in black clothes.
死神。
Zhè bù diàn yǐng jiǎng shù le yí gè yǔ Sǐ shén zhàn dòu de gù shi.
This movie tells a story of fighting against the Grim Reaper.

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.

The part 死 means death, and 神 means god, so the word names a god of death.

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

Sound part声符shēngfú

尸

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

死 is built from 歹 and 尸: 歹 is the part tied to the meaning, and 尸 gives the sound.

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.

Appears in

Mythology & Folklore

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