Definitions

shén (noun) deity; god; spirit
shén (adjective) mysterious; supernatural
shén (noun) expression; look
shén (adjective) lively; expressive

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound.

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character "神", representing deities or spiritual forces, originates from a compound structure where the component "示", associated with altars and religious display, provides semantic meaning, while "申", functioning as a phonetic marker, contributes to its pronunciation and carries connotations of extension or manifestation. In its earliest uses, the term referred to concrete nature spirits and ancestral gods within a polytheistic framework, but over time its application widened to include abstract notions of the divine, the supernatural, and the intrinsic spirit or mind in philosophical discourses, thereby evolving from a designation for external numinous entities to a concept also describing internal mental states and the fundamental essence of reality.

Etymology Hide

Bronze etymology image
Bronze Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Jin dynasty (266-316 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

话故事很有趣。

Shénhuà gùshì hěn yǒuqù.

Myth stories are very interesting.

她的眼很温柔。

Tā de yǎnshén hěn wēnróu.

Her eyes are very gentle.

健康很重要。

Jīngshén jiànkāng hěn zhòngyào.

Mental health is very important.

这个地方很秘。

Zhège dìfāng hěn shénmì.

This place is very mysterious.

他的经非常敏感。

Tā de shénjīng fēicháng mǐngǎn.

His nerves are very sensitive.

比赛进行得速。

Bǐsài jìnxíng dé shénsù.

The competition proceeded at lightning speed.

他表现出惊人的采。

Tā biǎoxiàn chū jīngrén de shéncǎi.

He displayed an amazing demeanor.

艺术家追求作品的韵。

Yìshùjiā zhuīqiú zuòpǐn de shényùn.

Artists pursue the charm in their works.