Definition
神灵 refers broadly to supernatural beings and forces in Chinese culture — gods, deities, spirits, and the numinous power they wield. It carries a weight of folk religion, mythology, and moral retribution that the straightforward English equivalents 'god' or 'spirit' don't fully capture. The word implies both a personal divine entity (e.g., 山神山灵 'mountain god') and an impersonal mystical force (e.g., 神灵保佑 'divine protection'). Use it in contexts of worship, legend, or when describing the idea of supernatural agency.
n.
goddeitydivine beingspiritsupernatural forcenuminous power
Examples
- 神灵，。Cūnmínmen xiāngxìn zhè zuò shān lǐ zhùzhe shén líng, suǒyǐ měi nián dōu huì lái jìbài.The villagers believe that gods dwell in this mountain, so they come to worship every year.
- ，。Gǔdài dìwáng cháng zìchēng shòumìng yú tiān, yǐ biǎomíng zìjǐ de tǒngzhì yǒu shén líng bìhù.Ancient emperors often claimed to have received the mandate of heaven, to show that their rule enjoyed divine protection.
- ，。Zài xiǎoshuō lǐ, zhǔjué yù dào wēixiǎn shí zǒng huì yǒu shén líng ànzhōng xiāngzhù.In the novel, the protagonist always gets covert help from supernatural forces when in danger.
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