Definition
神坛 literally means 'sacred altar' — a physical platform for religious ceremonies. Figuratively, it's used in modern Chinese to describe someone or something being placed on a pedestal, worshipped, or treated as infallible (e.g. 被推上神坛 'put on a pedestal', 走下神坛 'fall from grace'). The figurative sense is far more common in contemporary media and conversation than the literal one.
noun
sacred altar (literal)
p.w.
(figurative) pedestalposition of worship or infallibility
Examples
- 神坛。Zhè wèi míngxīng bèi fěnsī tuī shàng le shén tán.This celebrity was put on a pedestal by fans.
- 神坛，。Tā zǒu xià shén tán, guò qǐ le pǔtōng rén de shēnghuó.He stepped down from the altar and started living an ordinary life.
- 神坛。Bú yào bǎ rènhé rén fàng zài shén tán shàng.Don't put anyone on a pedestal.
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