主
Zhǔ
In Chinese, the English phrase 'lord' can be translated as 主 (Zhǔ) or 上帝.
Meaning: God (name)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 主 | Zhǔ |
| 上帝 | Shàngdì |
When referring to God, two main terms are used. 上帝 is the standard term used when referring to God as a proper noun in many Chinese Christian contexts. 主 is also used to refer to the Lord, often as a title or a shorthand reference in a Christian context. Outside of religion, 主 can mean a lord, master or owner.
What does it mean word for word?
The character 主 literally means master, owner or host.
Which one should you use?
While both terms can translate to 'Lord', 主 is often used as a title or a shorthand reference to God, whereas 上帝 is a more formal noun for 'God' or the 'Supreme Deity'.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
To create a vocative form used in prayer or exclamation, such as 'O Lord' in English, you can add the particle 啊 to the end of 主 to form 主啊.
How do you pronounce it?
Zhǔ
Did you know?
- In some contexts, the term 上帝 can also be used to refer to customers.
- While 上帝 is a common way to say 'God' in a Christian context, the term 'Shangdi' originally referred to the supreme deity in ancient Chinese mythology and folk religion long before Christianity arrived.
- Outside of a religious context, the word 主 is used to describe the 'host' of a party or the person providing lodging.
Examples in context
- 赞美主。Praise the Lord!This sentence is useful for practicing the use of 主 in a religious expression.Tatoeba #8856244 by iiujik, translation #2594384 by Hybrid
- 我的主My Lord
- 大王Great Lord
- 愿主保佑你。Yuàn zhǔ bǎoyòu nǐ.May the Lord bless you.
- 我们在主面前祷告。Wǒmen zài zhǔ miànqián dǎogào.We pray before the Lord.
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about their morning routine.
- 浩然 Haoran你今天早上做了什么？Nǐ jīntiān zǎoshang zuòle shénme?What did you do this morning?
- 晓雯 Xiaowen我先向主祷告。Wǒ xiān xiàng zhǔ dǎogào.I prayed to the Lord first.
- 浩然 Haoran这真是个好习惯。Zhè zhēnshì gè hǎo xíguàn.That is a really good habit.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen是的，这让我很平静。Shì de, zhè ràng wǒ hěn píngjìng.Yes, it makes me feel very peaceful.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “lord” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 上帝, 主, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
