洗礼

洗禮

xǐlǐ

noun HSK 7 #8,507

Meanings

1 baptism
2 (figurative) severe test; trial by fire; baptism of fire

Characters

to wash; to cleanse

ceremony; ritual; etiquette

Washing + ceremony — the ritual of cleansing, i.e. baptism.

Examples

他在教堂接受了洗礼。

Tā zài jiàotáng jiēshòu le xǐlǐ.

He received baptism at the church.

这支军队经历了战火的洗礼。

Zhè zhī jūnduì jīnglì le zhànhuǒ de xǐlǐ.

This army went through the baptism of fire.

经过市场洗礼，公司变得更强了。

Jīngguò shìchǎng xǐlǐ, gōngsī biàn de gèng qiáng le.

After the baptism of the market, the company became stronger.

Tips

usage

洗礼 is used literally for Christian baptism and figuratively for any formative trial or ordeal. The figurative use is very common: 战火的洗礼 (baptism of fire), 风雨的洗礼 (baptism of storms/hardship).

Stroke Order

洗 xǐ

礼 lǐ