神化 (shén huà) — to deify, to treat as a god

Definition

Verb meaning to treat someone or something as a god, often undeservedly. Often used in the 把 construction (把…神化) and commonly carries a critical tone, suggesting excessive idealization rather than genuine worship.

verb
to deifyto treat as a god
Easily confused

Examples

  • 神化。
    Tā men bǎ zhè wèi yīng xióng shén huà le.
    They deified this hero.
  • ，神化。
    Zài nà duàn lì shǐ zhōng, rén men bú duàn shén huà tǒng zhì zhě.
    In that period of history, people constantly deified the rulers.
  • 神化。
    Xiàn dài shè huì bù gāi shén huà cái fù hé quán lì.
    Modern society should not deify wealth and power.

Origin

Derived word
构词法gòucífǎ
后缀hòuzhuìSuffix

A fixed syllable at the end that turns the word into a noun, a person, a place or the like.

神shéngod
化huàturn into

“神” supplies the idea of a god, while “化” expresses turning into that state.

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.

化 shows two person figures, one upright and one upside down, to give the idea of reversal or change.

Open 化 →

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