洗礼 (xǐ lǐ) — (Christianity) baptism; (figurative) a severe o… | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

Literally a Christian baptism, but in modern Chinese it is widely used figuratively to mean a tough experience that transforms or tests a person (e.g., a setback, a hardship).

noun

(Christianity) baptism(figurative) a severe ordeal or initiation that tests and transforms

Measure word · 次

Examples

洗礼。
Tā de hái zi hěn xiǎo de shí hou jiù jiē shòu le xǐ lǐ.
His child received baptism when very young.
洗礼。
Zhè cì shī bài shì tā rén shēng zhōng de yí cì xǐ lǐ.
This failure was a baptism in his life.
洗礼，。
Jīng guò zhè chǎng shì gù de xǐ lǐ, tā biàn de gèng xiǎo xīn le.
After the baptism of this accident, he became more careful.

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 washing named by 洗 specifies the kind of rite called 礼.

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

水水shuǐwater

Sound part声符shēngfú

先

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

洗 is built from 水 (water) and 先, which gives the character its sound.

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 禮; 礼 is its simplified writing.

礻豊禮

Meaning part形符xíngfú

礻Written in full as示shìaltar

Sound part声符shēngfú

豊

豊lǐ禮lǐ

Same sound today

The traditional form 禮 pairs 礻 (altar) with 豊, a sound part, for performing rites at the altar; the simplified 礼 is a later shorthand.

Appears in

HSK 3.0 Level 7-9 Religion & Belief

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