身 stroke order 身 chinese writing meaning 身 chinese character tattoos

I. The Core Meaning of the Character "身" (shēn)

The character "身" (shēn) is a profound and multi-layered character. Its primary meaning is "body," but its significance extends far beyond the physical form into the realms of identity, life, and personal experience.

1. Literal & Physical Meanings:

  • Body; Torso:

    • 身体 (shēntǐ) - Body; health.

    • 身高 (shēngāo) - Height (of a body).

  • Object's Main Part:

    • 车身 (chēshēn) - Car body.

2. Figurative & Abstract Meanings:
This is where the character becomes philosophically rich.

  • Oneself; Personally: It refers to one's own person or self.

    • 亲身 (qīnshēn) - Personal; firsthand (as in personal experience).

    • 身临其境 (shēn lín qí jìng) - To be personally on the scene; to feel as if one is personally there.

  • Life; One's Lifetime:

    • 终身 (zhōngshēn) - All one's life; lifelong.

    • 献身 (xiànshēn) - To devote oneself to a cause.

  • Identity and Social Role:

    • 身份 (shēnfèn) - Identity; status.

3. Character Construction:
"身" is a pictograph. Its ancient oracle bone script clearly depicted a pregnant woman, emphasizing the belly and torso. Over time, it evolved to represent the human body in general. This origin imbues the character with a deep sense of vitality, nurturing, and the physical vessel of life.


II. "身" as a Tattoo: Meanings and Considerations

A tattoo of "身" is a powerful, introspective, and highly recommended choice. It serves as a direct statement about physical existence, self-identity, and personal commitment.

Common and Positive Meanings:

  1. A Celebration of the Physical Self: The most direct meaning. This tattoo can represent a love for athletics, dance, or any physical discipline. It can also symbolize body positivity, acceptance, and gratitude for one's physical vessel, especially after recovering from illness or injury.

  2. A Focus on Self-Identity and Presence: The tattoo can be a reminder to "be present in your own body" and to live an authentic life true to oneself. It asks the question, "Who am I?" and emphasizes the importance of knowing oneself (亲身 experience).

  3. A Commitment to a Lifelong Path: Drawing from 终身 (lifelong) and 献身 (devotion), it can symbolize a deep, personal commitment to a philosophy, a craft, an art, or a person—a pledge of one's entire "self" and "life" to that cause.

  4. A Mark of Personal Experience: It can represent a significant life journey that one has 亲身 (personally) experienced and that has fundamentally shaped who they are.

⚠️ Important Considerations & Potential Drawbacks

"身" is a very safe and positive tattoo. Its main challenge is its potential for being overly literal.

  • Potential for Literal Interpretation: Some might simply see it as "body," which could be perceived as stating the obvious if the deeper personal meaning isn't clear.

  • Subtlety of Meaning: The profound philosophical meanings of "self" and "life" are not immediately obvious to everyone. The wearer may appreciate the layered significance that others might not instantly grasp.

Conclusion and Recommendation

The character "身" is a highly recommended, profound, and versatile choice for a tattoo.

It is a symbol that represents:

  • Embodiment (living fully through the physical self)

  • Identity (the core of who you are)

  • Commitment (devotion of one's life to a cause or person)

  • Experience (the value of firsthand, personal journey)

If you are seeking a tattoo that grounds you in your physical existence, reminds you of your core identity, or symbolizes a lifelong commitment you have made, then "身" is a perfect and powerful emblem. It is a character that beautifully bridges the physical and the spiritual, the self and one's actions in the world.

How to Write "身" (Stroke Order)

The stroke order for "身" is crucial for achieving its elegant and correct structure. It is a 7-stroke character.

  1. First: 丿 (Left-falling) - The top-left short slash.

  2. Second: 丨 (Vertical) - The long vertical stroke that forms the "spine" of the body.

  3. Third: 𠃌 (Vertical Hook) - The large horizontal hook that forms the shoulder and waist.

  4. Fourth: 一 (Horizontal) - The top horizontal stroke inside the "body."

  5. Fifth: 一 (Horizontal) - The middle horizontal stroke.

  6. Sixth: 一 (Horizontal) - The lower horizontal stroke.

  7. Seventh: 丿 (Left-falling) - The final, long left-falling stroke that protrudes from the "body" (often interpreted as a leg or an emphasizing stroke).

Writing Tip: The character should look balanced and upright. The central vertical stroke is the backbone, and the three internal horizontal strokes should be evenly spaced. The final, protruding stroke gives the character a sense of motion and solidity. This structure visually reflects a person standing firmly, grounded in their own body and identity.

身字意思【meaning】

身字基本字义解释【Basic meaning】

身shēn（ㄕㄣ）

⒈  人、动物的躯体，物体的主要部分：身躯。人身。身材。身段。船身。树身。

⒉  指人的生命或一生：身世。献身。

⒊  亲自，本人：自身。亲身。身教。身体力行。

⒋  统指人的地位、品德：出身。身分（fèn ）。身败名裂。

⒌  孕，娠：身孕。

⒍  量词，指整套衣服：做了一身儿新衣服。

身字汉英互译【Chinese-English Translation】

body、life、one's conduct、oneself

造字法【Character Creation】

象形：像女人怀孕腹大之形

身的英文翻译【English Translation】

body; trunk, hull; rad. no. 158

身字组词【Word Grouping】

贱身;容身;诚身;身板;身故;回身;将身;身教;孤身;身份;身手;横身;我身;业身;身高;

身字取名的寓意【The meaning of the name】

身字取名寓指权力、品德高尚之意。中性字，用字频率为百分名字中使用了1581次，点击查看身字起名

身字取名的含义是什么【What does the name mean?】：

身字取名义指时尚,魅力,活泼之义;

身配什么字最好【What word is best?】

起名身配什么字最好【What word is best?】?身配什么字最好【What word is best?】男孩可配备、凇、钜、位、阜等字起名大气好听的。女孩身字配什么字好听可配萦、娈、顾、犀、羚等字起名最好听。

与身字搭配的最佳男孩名字【Best boy names that go with this word】

  • jiong shen皛身

  • xiao shen筱身

  • xiao shen晓身

  • bing shen炳身

  • xiao shen小身

与身字搭配的最佳女孩名字【Best girl names that go with this word】

  • xiao shen筱身

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