Chinese word

化身

Pronunciation

Pinyinhuà shēn

Meaning

  • nounembodiment

Example

他是正义的化身。tā shì zhèng yì de huà shēn

He is the embodiment of justice.

Illustration for 化身 (embodiment)

More examples

在孩子眼中，她是慈爱的化身。zài hái zi yǎn zhōng tā shì cí ài de huà shēn

In the children's eyes, she is the embodiment of loving kindness.

Core concept

A person or thing in which an abstract quality takes clear, living form.

Common phrases

  • 正义的化身zhèng yì de huà shēn

    embodiment of justice

  • 英雄的化身yīng xióng de huà shēn

    embodiment of heroism

  • 慈爱的化身cí ài de huà shēn

    embodiment of loving kindness

Similar words

象征xiàng zhēng: A sign or presence used to represent an abstract idea or quality.
代表dài biǎo: A person or thing that represents a group, view, or idea.

Definition in Chinese

被视为某种抽象概念或特质的集中体现或代表的人或事物。bèi shì wéi móu zhǒng chōu xiàng gài niàn huò tè zhì dì jí zhōng tǐ xiàn huò dài biǎo de rén huò shì wù

Word origin

化身 (huàshēn, "embodiment") combines 化 (huà, "transform") + 身 (shēn, "body"), presenting a quality as something that has taken a recognizable form.

Usage tips

  • In conversational Chinese, this noun often belongs to praise or dramatic commentary, so it can sound deliberately grand when used for an ordinary description.

Other meanings

  • incarnationnoun
  • avatarnoun

Word lists with this word