神学 (shén xué) — theology | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

noun

theology

Examples

神学。
Tā zài dà xué yán jiū shén xué.
He studies theology at university.
神学。
shén xué Hé zhé xué yǒu hěn duō jiāo chā de dì fāng.
Theology and philosophy have many overlapping areas.
神学。
Zhè běn shén xué zhù zuò yǐng xiǎng le jǐ dài rén.
This theological work has influenced several generations.

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.

神学 joins god and study, so it means theology.

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.

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 學; 学 is its simplified writing.

爻爻yáo
六六liù

The traditional form 學 may have used 爻 and 六 for sound, with hands and a child added later; the simplified 学 is a shorthand.

Appears in

Religion & Belief

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