三位一体
sānwèiyītǐ
In Chinese, the English word "trinity" is translated as 三位一体 (sānwèiyītǐ).
The term 三位一体 refers to the three persons of the Godhead in Christianity. It is also used more broadly to describe a group or set of three people or things. This phrase is common in religious and philosophical contexts.
Meaning: Christianity: three persons of the Godhead (name)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 三 (three), 位 (honorific classifier for persons), 一 (one) and 体 (body/entity), literally meaning "three persons/positions as one body".
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
sānwèiyītǐ
Did you know?
- Outside of theology, 三位一体 is frequently used in modern Chinese sports and gaming to describe a 'triple threat' or a player who possesses three distinct, elite skills.
- While the phrase describes three parts, the word 体 (tǐ) at the end can also mean 'system' or 'structure' in modern Chinese. This makes the term sound almost like a scientific or structural description of a single mechanism.
- In Chinese political discourse, a similar 'three-in-one' structure is used in the phrase 三结合, which refers to the combination of leadership, experts and the masses.
Examples in context
- 基督教三位一体的观念是指父、子、圣灵三位合而一的神。The concept of trinity in Christianity refers to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit being three in one God.
- 他们相信三位一体。Tāmen xiāngxìn sānwèi yītǐ.They believe in the Trinity.
- 三位一体是基督教的核心教义。Sānwèi yītǐ shì Jīdūjiào de héxīn jiàoyì.The Trinity is a core doctrine of Christianity.
- 他在研究三位一体的概念。Tā zài yánjiū sānwèi yītǐ de gàiniàn.He is studying the concept of the Trinity.
Example conversation
A student and a teacher are discussing theology in a library.
- 梓涵 Zihan老师，请解释一下三位一体的意思。Lǎoshī, qǐng jiěshì yīxià sānwèi yītǐ de yìsi.Teacher, please explain the meaning of the Trinity.
- 伟 Wei它是指圣父、圣子与圣灵。Tā shì zhǐ Shèngfù, Shèngzǐ yǔ Shènglíng.It refers to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
- 梓涵 Zihan我明白了，这真是个深奥的概念。Wǒ míngbai le, zhè zhēn shì ge shēn'ào de gàiniàn.I understand, it really is a profound concept.
- 伟 Wei是的，梓涵，这需要慢慢理解。Shì de, Zǐhán, zhè xūyào mànman lǐjiě.Yes, Zihan, this needs to be understood slowly.
