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神龙 (shén lóng) — divine dragon (mythical creature in Chinese mythology)

Definition

Divine dragon of Chinese mythology, typically the auspicious, sky-soaring kind used in legends and art. As a 离合词 it can split: 这条神龙的传说 / 神龙的眼睛.

noun
divine dragon (mythical creature in Chinese mythology)
Measure word · 条

Examples

  • ，神龙。
    Chuán shuō zhōng, shén lóng néng gòu hū fēng huàn yǔ.
    According to legend, the divine dragon can summon wind and rain.
  • 神龙，。
    Zhè fú huà lǐ de shén lóng xǔ xǔ rú shēng, fǎng fú yào fēi chū lái.
    The divine dragon in this painting is so lifelike it seems about to fly out.
  • 神龙。
    Zhè wèi zuò jiā shàn cháng xiě shén lóng tí cái de qí huàn xiǎo shuō.
    This author is skilled at writing fantasy novels about divine dragons.

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shéndivine
龙lóngdragon

神龙 joins 神 (divine) and 龙 (dragon) to name a mythical dragon with divine power.

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 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 龍; 龙 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 龍 originally drew a sacred creature with a large mouth and a snake-like body; the simplified 龙 is the form written here.

Open 龙 →
Appears in
Mythology & Folklore

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