基督徒
jīdūtú
In Chinese, 'christian' is translated as 基督徒 (jīdūtú). Wiktionary also lists 基督教徒 (jīdūjiàotú).
Meaning: member of the Christian religion (noun)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 基督徒 | jīdūtú |
| 基督教徒 | jīdūjiàotú |
The terms refer to a member of the Christian religion. While 基督徒 refers to the person, the related word 基督教 refers to the religion itself.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 基督徒 is composed of 基督 (Christ) and 徒 (follower or disciple).
Which one should you use?
The form 基督教徒 is slightly more formal and explicit than 基督徒 because it explicitly includes the word for the religion, 基督教, within it.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
jīdūtú
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often confuse the religion with the person. Use 基督教 to refer to the faith and 基督徒 to refer to the person.
Did you know?
- The word 基督 is a phonetic transliteration of 'Christ' and does not have a native Chinese meaning. In contrast, many other religious terms in Chinese use descriptive characters to explain the concept.
- The character 徒 can also mean '徒手' (empty-handed) or '徒劳' (in vain) in other contexts, showing how a single character's meaning shifts based on its companions.
- In mainland China, you may see the term 基督徒 used interchangeably with 基督新教徒 to specifically distinguish Protestants from Catholics.
Examples in context
- 我是基督教徒，而他則是佛教徒。I am Christian, but he is Buddhist.This sentence is useful for contrasting a Christian with a Buddhist using 基督教徒.Tatoeba #6467642 by xjjAstrus, translation #1365817 by marcelostockle
- 一個人不去教堂也能算是基督徒嗎？Can a person be Christian without going to church?This sentence uses 基督徒 to ask if a person can be considered a Christian without attending church.Tatoeba #13867398 by LeviHighway, translation #13683758 by frpzzd
- 汤姆名义上是基督徒。他从来不去做礼拜。Tom is a Christian in name only. He never goes to church.This sentence uses 基督徒 to describe someone who is a Christian in name only.Tatoeba #4764571 by ryanwoo, translation #4762936 by DostKaplan
- Yesterday, I met a 基督徒 at the park who shared their experiences.Yesterday, I met a Christian at the park who shared their experiences.
- My cousin is a devout 基督教徒 and goes to church every Sunday.My cousin is a devout Christian and goes to church every Sunday.
- Many young people nowadays identify themselves as 基督教徒.Many young people nowadays identify themselves as Christian.
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Xiaowen and Wei are discussing their family backgrounds.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen你家里的人都是基督徒吗？Nǐ jiālǐ de rén dōu shì Jīdūtú ma?Is everyone in your family a Christian?
- 伟 Wei是的，我们全家都是基督徒。Shì de, wǒmen quánjiā dōu shì Jīdūtú.Yes, my whole family are Christians.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen所以你们经常去教堂吗？Suǒyǐ nǐmen jīngcháng qù jiàotáng ma?So do you go to church often?
- 伟 Wei没错，我们每周日都会去。Méicuò, wǒmen měi xīngrì dūhuì qù.That's right, we go every Sunday.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “christian” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
