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神 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
神shénGodHSK 6, n, 9 strokes, radical 礻, rank #830, Hard
神shéndeityHSK 6, n, 9 strokes, radical 礻, rank #830, Hard
神shénsoulHSK 6, n, 9 strokes, radical 礻, rank #830, Hard
神shénspiritHSK 6, n, 9 strokes, radical 礻, rank #830, Hard
神shénunusualHSK 6, n, 9 strokes, radical 礻, rank #830, Hard
神shénmysteriousHSK 6, n, 9 strokes, radical 礻, rank #830, Hard
神shénlivelyHSK 6, n, 9 strokes, radical 礻, rank #830, Hard
神shénexpressiveHSK 6, n, 9 strokes, radical 礻, rank #830, Hard
神shénexpressionHSK 6, n, 9 strokes, radical 礻, rank #830, Hard
神shénlookHSK 6, n, 9 strokes, radical 礻, rank #830, Hard
神shéngod, spirit; divine, mysterious, supernaturalHSK 6, n, 9 strokes, radical 礻, rank #830, Hard
神shén(slang) awesomeHSK 6, unknown, 9 strokes, radical 礻, rank #830, Hard
神shénamazingHSK 6, unknown, 9 strokes, radical 礻, rank #830, Hard
神shénabbr. for 神舟[Shén zhōu]HSK 6, n, 9 strokes, radical 礻, rank #830, Hard
神shénabbr. for 神舟[Shen2 zhou1]HSK 6, unknown, 9 strokes, radical 礻, rank #830, Hard
shén(Shen2) T2
  1. 1God
  2. 2deity
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

神shén(Shen2)

The character 神 (shén) primarily means 'god' or 'deity,' and it can also refer to the spirit or soul. It encompasses concepts of the divine, the mysterious, and expressions of liveliness or uniqueness. Commonly used in both religious contexts and colloquial expressions to denote something amazing or extraordinary, it conveys a deep cultural reverence for the divine and the supernatural.

Strokes9Radical礻Frequency#830DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of 神 is deeply embedded in religious practices, particularly in Daoism and Buddhism, where numerous deities and spirits are worshipped. Festivals and rituals often include offerings to these gods, highlighting their role in daily life and the community.

Memory Tip

Imagine a 'spirit' (神) soaring in the sky, shining with an otherworldly light. The character has a radical for 'deity' (示) that resembles a shrine, combined with the character for 'man' (人) symbolizing humanity's connection to the divine. Picture a lively spirit dancing between the shrine and the earth.

Meanings of 神

shén(Shen2)
1God
2deity
Exercise 1 of 3

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 神

神Simplified
9Strokes
礻Radical
名形词xíngróngcíadj-noun (adj.-n.)Part of Speech
#830Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L6IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRB2

Podcast: 神

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Podcast: 神

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 神

Quick Contrast

神 (shén, god) vs 精灵 (jīnglíng, spirit/fairy) — use 神 when referring to a deity or divine being, while 精灵 is used for spirits or supernatural beings that are often more whimsical or ethereal.

Usage Notes

In informal contexts, 神 can be used as slang to describe something amazing or impressive, like a person's skills. Be careful with the tone; it's pronounced in the second tone (shén), which is different from the first tone (shēn) that means 'to sink.' Misusing the tone can change the meaning completely.

HSK Study Tips

While 神 is not an HSK word, it connects well with other HSK vocabulary related to culture and spirituality. Focus on how it interacts with words like 灵 (líng - spirit) and 鬼 (guǐ - ghost) to expand your understanding of spiritual concepts in Chinese.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 神 with other similar-sounding words due to tonal variations. For example, saying shēn instead of shén can mistakenly refer to sinking instead of a spirit. Pay attention to the tone to ensure clarity.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 神

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Etymology of 神

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Explanation

Phonosemantic compound. 礻 represents the meaning and 申 represents the sound.

Memory Hint

spirit

Semantic (meaning)礻
+
Phonetic (sound)申
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 神

Phonosemantic compound. 礻 represents the meaning and 申 represents the sound.

  1. 1The meaning half礻 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half申 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawayspirit
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 神? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.

Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 神?

Decomposition of 神

IDS Structure⿰礻申
神Full Character
=
礻shi4
left
申Shen1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 神?

How to say God in Chinese

“God” in Chinese is神shén

The character 神 (shén) primarily means 'god' or 'deity,' and it can also refer to the spirit or soul. It encompasses concepts of the divine, the mysterious, and expressions of liveliness or uniqueness. Commonly used in both religious contexts and colloquial expressions to denote something amazing or extraordinary, it conveys a deep cultural reverence for the divine and the supernatural.

When to use 神

In informal contexts, 神 can be used as slang to describe something amazing or impressive, like a person's skills. Be careful with the tone; it's pronounced in the second tone (shén), which is different from the first tone (shēn) that means 'to sink.' Misusing the tone can change the meaning completely.

神 or something close to it

神 (shén, god) vs 精灵 (jīnglíng, spirit/fairy) — use 神 when referring to a deity or divine being, while 精灵 is used for spirits or supernatural beings that are often more whimsical or ethereal.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 神 with other similar-sounding words due to tonal variations. For example, saying shēn instead of shén can mistakenly refer to sinking instead of a spirit. Pay attention to the tone to ensure clarity.

Write 神

神

Practice writing 神 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Grammar Patterns of 神

神 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 15 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Related grammar lessons1
Exercise 1 of 4

Complete the Sentence

他____经极为紧张！比我还糟！

He was in a blue funk! Worse than me!

Common Confusions with 神

神vs深
shēn

Similar pronunciation and shape but different meanings.

神vs申
shēn

Similar pronunciation and shape but different meanings.

Exercise 1 of 1

Spot the Difference

Which character means "God"?

or

Example Sentences for 神 (10)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
他神经极为紧张！比我还糟！

tā shén jīng jí wéi jǐn zhāng！ ！ bǐ wǒ huán！

He was in a blue funk! Worse than me!
2
我们感到大家生活的精神层次各不相同。

wǒ mén gǎn dào dà jiā shēng huó de jīng shén céng cì gè bù xiāng tóng。

We felt we were living life on several different planes.
3
如果受到损伤，神经细胞再造的能力有限。

rú guǒ shòu dào sǔn shāng， ， shén jīng xì bāo zài zào de néng lì yǒu。

Nerve cells have limited ability to regenerate if destroyed.
4
这种植物被用作治疗神经痛时的镇静药。

zhè zhǒng zhí wù bèi yòng zuò zhì liáo shén jīng tòng shí de zhèn jìng yào。

The plant acts as a sedative in treating neuralgia.
5
实话告诉你，我今晚有点儿心神不宁。

shí huà gào sù nǐ， ， wǒ jīn wǎn yǒu diǎn ér xīn shén bù。

To tell the truth, I'm a bit unsettled tonight.
6
一旦你改掉神经脆弱的毛病，便可一往无前。

yī dàn nǐ gǎi diào shén jīng cuì ruò de máo bìng， ， biàn kě yī wǎng wú。

When you've got over your squeamishness, there will be no stopping you.
7
安德鲁注意到她在愣神，便问道：“你怎么啦？”

ān dé lǔ zhù yì dào tā zài lèng shén， ， biàn wèn：“ dào ：“ nǐ zěn？”

Andrew noticed her abstraction and asked, "What's bothering you?"
8
该队还因其良好的体育精神及公平竞争精神而受到了表扬。

gāi duì huán yīn qí liáng hǎo de tǐ yù jīng shén jí gōng píng jìng zhēng jīng shén ér shòu dào le biǎo yáng。

The team also won praise for sportsmanship and fair play.
9
这是通过中枢神经系统的调节作用实现的。

zhè shì tōng guò zhōng shū shén jīng xì tǒng de tiáo jié zuò yòng shí xiàn de。

This works through the mediation of the central nervous system.
10
我今晚有点心神不定，这场争斗让我不安。

wǒ jīn wǎn yǒu diǎn xīn shén bù dìng， ， zhè cháng zhēng dǒu ràng wǒ bù。

I'm a bit unsettled tonight. This war thing's upsetting me.

Word Family of 神

Compounds1
榊
Words Containing This Character20
精神jīngshenspirit
神shéndeity
神经shénjīngnerve神經
神秘shénmìmysterious
神奇shénqímagical
眼神yǎnshénwink
神父(spiritual) father
神马mythical horse神馬
神像image of a God
神圣shénshèngdivine神聖
女神goddess
神话shénhuàlegend神話
精神病jīngshénbìngmental disorder
神经病mental disorder神經病
神情shénqínglook
死神(fig.) death
精神文明spiritual culture
神色look
神仙shénxiānDaoist immortal
神舟Shenzhou (spacecraft)
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 精神 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 神

神舟 (Shénzhōu) refers to China's crewed space program and translates to 'Divine Vessel'. It symbolizes the advancement of Chinese technology and exploration. The name reflects a cultural reverence for the divine and the aspiration to reach new heights.

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