shénhuà: 神话 - Myth, Mythology, Fairytale

• Keywords: shenhua, 神话, Chinese myth, Chinese mythology, what does shenhua mean, Chinese legends, Chinese folklore, ancient Chinese stories, fairytale in Chinese
• Summary: The Chinese word 神话 (shénhuà) translates to “myth” or “mythology” and refers to the rich collection of ancient Chinese stories about gods, goddesses, creation, and cultural heroes. More than just fairytales, Chinese mythology forms a foundational part of the culture, explaining the origins of the world and timeless values. In modern Chinese, 神话 (shénhuà) is also used figuratively to describe an incredible, almost unbelievable achievement or success story.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): shénhuà
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: A traditional story involving supernatural beings or events, or a body of such stories (mythology).
• In a Nutshell: 神话 (shénhuà) is the Chinese term for the grand, ancient stories that explain the unexplainable. Think of tales about how the world was created, how humanity came to be, and how gods and heroes shaped the landscape and culture. These are not just children's stories; they are foundational narratives that carry deep cultural and philosophical weight.

• 神 (shén): This character means “god,” “deity,” “spirit,” or “divine.” It points to something supernatural, sacred, or beyond the realm of human understanding.
• 话 (huà): This character means “speech,” “talk,” or “story.” It refers to a spoken or written narrative.

When combined, 神话 (shénhuà) literally means “divine stories” or “stories of the gods,” a perfect and direct description of what mythology is.

Chinese 神话 (shénhuà) is a vast and complex tapestry woven from various folk traditions, Daoist beliefs, and Buddhist influences. Unlike the more centralized pantheon of Greek gods on Mount Olympus, Chinese mythology is often more fragmented and regional, with different stories explaining the same phenomena. A key difference in focus can be seen when comparing foundational myths. While Greek myths often center on the drama, conflicts, and human-like flaws of the gods, many core Chinese myths emphasize concepts of cosmic balance, self-sacrifice for the collective good, and the origins of order. For example:

• 盘古开天 (Pángǔ kāi tiān): The myth of Pangu, who separated heaven and earth from chaos and whose body became the world's features after his death, highlights creation through ultimate self-sacrifice.
• 女娲补天 (Nǚwā bǔ tiān): The myth of the goddess Nüwa, who created humans and later mended a hole in the sky to save humanity, shows a divine being as a compassionate protector and restorer of order.

These stories embed core cultural values like dedication, perseverance, and the importance of contributing to the greater community, which resonate in Chinese society to this day.

神话 (shénhuà) is used in two primary ways in modern China: 1. Literal Use: Talking about Mythology This is the most direct usage. You use it to refer to the body of myths from any culture.

• 中国神话 (Zhōngguó shénhuà) - Chinese mythology
• 希腊神话 (Xīlà shénhuà) - Greek mythology

2. Figurative Use: Describing an Unbelievable Success This is a very common and important modern usage. 神话 (shénhuà) can describe a person, company, or event whose success is so extraordinary it seems legendary or almost impossible. In this context, it has a very positive connotation, meaning “a modern-day legend” or “an incredible success story.”

• `他的职业生涯就是一个神话。` (Tā de zhíyè shēngyá jiùshì yī ge shénhuà.) - “His career is a legend.”
• `这家公司创造了销售神话。` (Zhè jiā gōngsī chuàngzào le xiāoshòu shénhuà.) - “This company created a sales miracle/legend.”

Example 1: 我小时候很喜欢读中国神话故事。 Pinyin: Wǒ xiǎoshíhou hěn xǐhuān dú Zhōngguó shénhuà gùshi. English: When I was little, I really liked to read Chinese mythology stories. Analysis: A straightforward, literal use of the term. The addition of `故事 (gùshi)` makes it clear we are talking about individual stories within the mythology. Example 2: 盘古开天的神话在中国家喻户晓。 Pinyin: Pángǔ kāi tiān de shénhuà zài Zhōngguó jiāyùxiǎozhī. English: The myth of Pangu creating the heavens and the earth is known by every household in China. Analysis: This example refers to a specific, famous myth, showing how 神话 is used to categorize a particular story. Example 3: 你相信神话里的人物真的存在过吗？ Pinyin: Nǐ xiāngxìn shénhuà lǐ de rénwù zhēn de cúnzài guò ma? English: Do you believe the figures in mythology really existed? Analysis: This sentence shows 神话 used in a general sense to refer to the entire genre of mythological stories. Example 4: 他对古希腊神话特别感兴趣。 Pinyin: Tā duì gǔ Xīlà shénhuà tèbié gǎn xìngqù. English: He is especially interested in ancient Greek mythology. Analysis: Demonstrates how 神话 is used for non-Chinese mythologies as well. Example 5: 这家科技公司的崛起简直是一个神话。 Pinyin: Zhè jiā kējì gōngsī de juéqǐ jiǎnzhí shì yī ge shénhuà. English: The rise of this tech company is simply a legend/miracle. Analysis: A perfect example of the positive, figurative meaning. The success is so amazing it's like a myth. Example 6: 他在奥运会上夺得八枚金牌，创造了一个不败的神话。 Pinyin: Tā zài Àoyùnhuì shàng duódé bā méi jīnpái, chuàngzào le yī ge bù bài de shénhuà. English: He won eight gold medals at the Olympics, creating an undefeated legend. Analysis: Here, 神话 describes a legendary achievement in sports. The adjective `不败的 (bù bài de - undefeated)` modifies it. Example 7: 很多人认为“一夜暴富”只是一个神话，并不现实。 Pinyin: Hěn duō rén rènwéi “yīyè bàofù” zhǐshì yī ge shénhuà, bìng bù xiànshí. English: Many people think that “getting rich overnight” is just a myth and not realistic. Analysis: This is a figurative use that aligns more with the English meaning of “myth” as a falsehood or a widely held but false belief. Context is key here. Example 8: 这部电影的灵感来源于一个古老的神话。 Pinyin: Zhè bù diànyǐng de línggǎn láiyuán yú yī ge gǔlǎo de shénhuà. English: This movie's inspiration comes from an ancient myth. Analysis: Shows how 神话 is used in the context of art and media. Example 9: 每个文化都有自己独特的创世神话。 Pinyin: Měi ge wénhuà dōu yǒu zìjǐ dútè de chuàngshì shénhuà. English: Every culture has its own unique creation myth. Analysis: `创世神话 (chuàngshì shénhuà)` is a common compound noun meaning “creation myth.” Example 10: 这个品牌在市场上保持领先地位，成为了行业神话。 Pinyin: Zhège pǐnpái zài shìchǎng shàng bǎochí lǐngxiān dìwèi, chéngwéi le hángyè shénhuà. English: This brand maintains a leading position in the market, becoming an industry legend. Analysis: Another strong example of the figurative business/economic usage. `行业神话 (hángyè shénhuà)` means “industry legend.”

A common point of confusion for learners is distinguishing 神话 from similar words for stories.

• 神话 (shénhuà) vs. 传说 (chuánshuō) - Legend:
  • 神话 involves gods, magic, and supernatural events that explain the origin of the world or natural phenomena. It's set in a primordial, divine time (e.g., Nüwa creating people).
  • 传说 (chuánshuō) is a “legend.” It's often based on a real historical person, place, or event, but the story has been embellished with fantastical or heroic elements over time (e.g., the legend of Mulan, which is rooted in a real historical period).
  • Mistake: Calling the story of Mulan a `神话`. It's a `传说` because Mulan was a human, not a goddess.
• 神话 (shénhuà) vs. 童话 (tónghuà) - Fairytale:
  • 神话 are foundational cultural stories for all ages.
  • 童话 (tónghuà) literally means “children's stories” and refers specifically to fairytales, like those by Hans Christian Andersen or the Brothers Grimm.
  • Mistake: Referring to the Greek myth of Zeus as a `童话`. While children might read a simplified version, it's properly classified as a `神话`.

• 传说 (chuánshuō) - A legend, a story often rooted in history but embellished over time.
• 故事 (gùshi) - The general word for “story.”
• 民间故事 (mínjiān gùshi) - A folktale; stories passed down among the common people.
• 寓言 (yùyán) - A fable or allegory, a short story with a moral lesson (e.g., The Tortoise and the Hare).
• 盘古 (Pángǔ) - A key figure in Chinese creation mythology, said to have separated heaven and earth.
• 女娲 (Nǚwā) - A central goddess in Chinese mythology who created humans and repaired the sky.
• 后羿 (Hòu Yì) - A mythical heroic archer, most famous for shooting down nine of the ten suns.
• 神仙 (shénxiān) - A deity, immortal, or transcendent being, a common character type in Chinese mythology and Daoism.
• 妖怪 (yāoguài) - A monster, demon, or goblin. Often serves as the antagonist in mythological or fantasy stories.
• 奇迹 (qíjì) - A miracle. Often used similarly to the figurative sense of `神话` to describe an amazing event, but `奇迹` focuses on the single event itself, while `神话` often implies a longer story of success.