神 shén god
god; spirit; deity; mind; energy; lively
How to remember 神: 礻 sign + 申 to state = god. After the storm a farmer takes the rainbow as a sign and runs to the square to state that it was sent by a god.
Component breakdown
神 = 礻 sign + 申 to state
- 礻 sign
- 申 to state
After the storm a farmer takes the rainbow as a sign and runs to the square to state that it was sent by a god.
How it is used
- Noun "god, deity, spirit", but far more common as a bound morpheme across a huge family of words about mind and energy.
- 精神 (jīngshen) "energy/spirit/mental state" is everyday: 有精神 "looks lively"; 神经 (shénjīng) is the anatomical "nerve".
- 眼神 (yǎnshén) "the look in someone's eyes" and 留神 (liúshén) "to be careful, watch out" show 神 extended to attention/expression.
- In casual speech 神 alone can be an intensifying adjective for "amazing, uncanny": 真神！(zhēn shén!) "that's incredible!"
Words with 神
- 神秘shénmìmysteriousHSK 5
- 神话shénhuàlegendHSK 5
- 精神jīngshenvigorHSK 5
- 神奇shénqímagicalHSK 6
- 神经shénjīngnerveHSK 6
- 精神jīngshénspiritHSK 7
- 出神chūshénspellboundHSK 8
- 留神liúshénto take careHSK 9
- 眼神yǎnshénexpression or emotion showing in one's eyesHSK 9
- 神仙shénxiānDaoist immortalHSK 9
- 神圣shénshèngdivineHSK 9
- 神态shéntàiappearanceHSK 9
- 神情shénqínglookHSK 9
- 神气shénqìexpressionHSK 9
- 精神病jīngshénbìngmental disorderHSK 9
- 聚精会神jùjīng-huìshénto concentrate one's attention (idiom)HSK 9
Example sentences
- 我精神上支持你。 Wǒ jīngshén shang zhīchí nǐ.I'll give you mental support.