十字圣号
shí zì shèng hào
The phrase "the sign of the cross" in Chinese is 十字圣号 (shí zì shèng hào).
十字圣号 refers to the religious gesture of tracing a cross on the body as an act of prayer or blessing. To express the action of performing the gesture, you can use the verbal phrase 划十字圣号.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase 十字圣号 is composed of 十字 (cross), 圣 (holy) and 号 (sign or mark), literally meaning "the sign of the holy cross".
Which one should you use?
While 十字圣号 is the full noun, you can use the colloquial form 划十字 to mean "to make the sign of the cross" in casual conversation. This version omits the word for "holy" (圣).
How does it change in a sentence?
To turn the noun into a verb meaning "to make" or "to perform" the sign, add the verb 划 (to trace or draw) to the beginning of the phrase.
How do you pronounce it?
shí zì shèng hào
Did you know?
- In Chinese, 十字 (cross) is the standard term for a 'crossroads' where two streets meet, making the phrase sound like 'the holy sign of the intersection' to an unrelated listener.
- In secular Chinese pop culture, the phrase 划十字 is sometimes used jokingly to describe someone trying to ward off bad luck, even if they are not religious.
- The verb 划 used in 划十字 literally means 'to row' a boat or 'to scratch' a surface, emphasizing the physical motion of drawing a line through the air.
Example conversation
Haoran and Jiayi are visiting a cathedral.
- 浩然 Haoran佳怡，你看那些人在画十字圣号。Jiāyí, nǐ kàn nàxiē rén zài huà shízì shènghào.Jiayi, look, those people are making the sign of the cross.
- 佳怡 Jiayi是的，这是他们祈祷的方式。Shì de, zhè shì tāmen qǐdǎo de fāngshì.Yes, this is their way of praying.
- 浩然 Haoran我们也可以画十字圣号吗？Wǒmen yě kěyǐ huà shízì shènghào ma?Can we also make the sign of the cross?
- 佳怡 Jiayi没问题，你可以试着做一遍。Méi wèntí, nǐ kěyǐ shìzhe zuò yí biàn.No problem, you can try doing it once.
