Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 救星 | jiùxīng |
| 救世主 | jiùshìzhǔ |
A savior is someone who rescues others from harm or danger. In Chinese, you can use these terms either for a person or, in the case of 救星, metaphorically for a thing or a solution that rescues someone from a difficult predicament.
What does it mean word for word?
救星 (jiùxīng) literally translates to "saving star". 救世主 (jiùshìzhǔ) is composed of 救 (to save), 世 (world or generation) and 主 (lord or master).
Which one should you use?
救星 is typically used for a person or thing that arrives at a critical moment to solve a problem or rescue someone from a difficult situation. It is also used metaphorically for non-human things, like a "saving grace". In contrast, 救世主 is a much grander term used for a savior of the world, a messiah or a figure with a divine or historical mission to save humanity.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
jiùxīng
Did you know?
- In traditional Chinese culture, the idea of a 救世主 is less common than the concept of 菩薩 (Bodhisattva), a being who delays their own enlightenment to save all sentient beings.
- While 救世主 is often used for a messiah, in modern Chinese pop culture, it can also describe a 'savior' in a comedic or hyperbolic sense, such as someone who arrives to 'save' a person from a boring social event.
- The character 星 in 救星 refers to the ancient belief that celestial bodies could influence human fate or provide divine guidance during crises.
Examples in context
- 从来就没有什么救世主， 也不靠神仙皇帝！There has never been a savior nor an immortal emperor to rely on.This sentence is useful for illustrating the idea that one should not rely on a 救世主.Tatoeba #690503 by offdare, translation #1102876 by ScarsAndStripes
- 你真是我的救星。Nǐ zhēn shì wǒ de jiùxīng.You are truly my savior.
Example conversation
Yu Ting helps Zhi Qiang finish a difficult report at the last minute.
- 志强 Zhiqiang谢谢你帮我，雨婷！Xièxiè nǐ bāng wǒ, Yǔtíng!Thank you for helping me, Yu Ting!
- 雨婷 Yuting没关系，刚好我有时间。Méiguānxì, gānghǎo wǒ yǒu shíjiān.It's okay, I happened to have time.
- 志强 Zhiqiang你真的是我的救星。Nǐ zhēnde shì wǒ de jiùxīng.You really are my savior.
- 雨婷 Yuting别这么夸张，志强。Bié zhème kuāzhāng, Zhìqiáng.Don't be so dramatic, Zhi Qiang.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “savior” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
