About

The compound word **神仙 (shénxiān)** is formed by combining two semantically related characters: **神 (shén)**, which originally refers to gods, deities, or divine spirits often associated with heavenly authority and innate power, and **仙 (xiān)**, which denotes transcendent immortals or sages who achieve their exalted state through self-cultivation, alchemy, or Daoist practices. Together, they create a composite concept that encompasses both the inherent divinity of **神** and the attained perfection and eternal life of **仙**, representing a supreme being who is both spiritually powerful and blissfully transcendent, often dwelling beyond the mortal realm. This fusion reflects a key Daoist ideal where the boundaries between heavenly divinity and human ascension to immortality are merged.

Word Definition - 神仙

shén xiān Daoist immortal; supernatural entity; (in modern fiction) fairy, elf, leprechaun etc; fig. lighthearted person

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