真身

zhēnshēn

noun #32,973

Meanings

1 true form (of a deity, Buddha, or supernatural being)
2 the real self (vs. an avatar / disguise / online persona)
3 the true relic body of a Buddhist saint

Characters

Examples

孙悟空显出真身。

Sūn Wùkōng xiǎnchū zhēnshēn.

Sun Wukong revealed his true form.

网友们都很想知道这位大V 的真身是谁。

Wǎngyǒumen dōu hěn xiǎng zhīdào zhè wèi dà V de zhēnshēn shì shéi.

Netizens all want to know who the real person behind this big-name account is.

Tips

culture

真身 has a strong religious origin: a Buddha or bodhisattva temporarily takes a 化身 (huàshēn, manifestation form) to walk among mortals; revealing 真身 is the dramatic moment they show their cosmic, original body. Famous example — Famen Temple's 佛指真身舍利 (Buddha-finger relic). Modern internet usage borrows the metaphor: revealing your 真身 = unmasking the real person behind an online avatar.

Stroke Order

真 zhēn

身 shēn