Chinese word

神仙

Pronunciation

Pinyinshén xiān

Meaning

  • nounimmortal

Example

他相信有神仙存在。tā xiāng xìn yǒu shén xiān cún zài

He believes immortals exist.

Illustration for 神仙 (immortal)

More examples

人们到庙里向神仙祈求平安。rén men dào miào lǐ xiàng shén xiān qí qiú píng ān

People go to the temple to pray to immortals for peace.

Core concept

A being who rises beyond ordinary human limits through spiritual power, endless life, or extraordinary abilities.

Common phrases

  • 供奉神仙gòng fèng shén xiān

    worship immortals

  • 向神仙祈祷xiàng shén xiān qí dǎo

    pray to immortals

  • 神仙显灵shén xiān xiǎn líng

    immortals reveal their power

Similar words

仙xiān: An immortal believed to gain long life or supernatural abilities through spiritual practice.
仙人xiān rén: A human-like being said to become immortal through training in mountains or caves.

Definition in Chinese

指在道教传说或民间故事中，被认为经过修行或服药而脱离生老病死、获得长生或特殊能力的人，也可泛指非凡的人物。zhǐ zài dào jiào chuán shuō huò mín jiān gù shì zhōng bèi rèn wéi jīng guò xiū xíng huò fú yào ér tuō lí shēng lǎo bìng sǐ huò dé cháng shēng huò tè shū néng lì de rén yě kě fàn zhǐ fēi fán de rén wù

Word origin

神仙 (shénxiān, "immortal") combines 神 (shén, "spirit") with 仙 (xiān, "transcendent immortal"), forming a term for a superhuman being in Daoist and folk belief.

Usage tips

  • In conversation, the word can refer to a being in a story or belief, but it can also praise a real person as exceptionally capable; the surrounding context signals which reading applies.

Other meanings

  • Daoist godnoun

Opposites

Word lists with this word