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神仙 (shén xiān) — immortal (in Daoism/Chinese mythology); supernatural being; (fig.) carefree person living an easy life

Definition

A Daoist immortal — a supernatural being who has transcended death. 仙女 is specifically the female form (celestial maiden); 神仙 is gender-neutral and can also mean (figuratively) someone living a carefree life.

noun
immortal (in Daoism/Chinese mythology)supernatural being(fig.) carefree person living an easy life
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 神仙，。
    Chuán shuō zhōng shén xiān néng téng yún jià wù, cháng shēng bù lǎo.
    According to legend, immortals can ride clouds and live forever.
  • ，神仙。
    Tā tuì xiū hòu měi tiān diào yú hē chá, shēng huó guò dé xiàng shén xiān yí yàng xiāo yáo.
    After retirement, he fishes and drinks tea every day, living as freely as an immortal.
  • 神仙。
    Zhè bù diàn yǐng lǐ de shén xiān dōu yǒu chāo fán de fǎ lì.
    The immortals in this movie all have extraordinary magical powers.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

神shénspirit/god
仙xiānimmortal

神仙 joins 神 (spirit/god) and 仙 (immortal) to refer broadly to supernatural beings.

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
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.

Open 神 →

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

仙 pairs 亻 (person) with 山 (mountain), showing a person moving into a mountain to become immortal; 山 also gives the sound.

Open 仙 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9HSK 2.0 Level 6Mythology & FolkloreReligion & Belief

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