Meaning of 偶像
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- idol
How to use 偶像
偶像 is used for religious idols and, much more often today, for celebrities and role models that fans admire. It also appears in phrases like 偶像剧 (ǒuxiàngjù, idol drama) and 偶像派 (ǒuxiàngpài, idol-type performer). Example: 他是我的偶像。(Tā shì wǒ de ǒuxiàng.) He is my idol.
偶 (ǒu) and 像 (xiàng) both have the person radical 亻 on the left, so picture two figures shaped like people. 像 means an image or likeness, so 偶像 is a human-shaped image that people look up to, an idol.
Common mistake: Learners often write 象 (xiàng, elephant; appearance) instead of 像 in this word. In 偶像 you need the version with 亻 on the left, the same 像 used in 好像 and 录像.
偶像 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
偶 ǒu · accidentally · 11 strokes
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像 xiàng · to resemble · 13 strokes
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Related words
Words that share a character with 偶像.
| 好像 | hǎoxiàng | as if; to seem like |
| 偶尔 | ǒu'ěr | occasionally; once in a while |
| 摄像机 | shèxiàngjī | video camera |
| 偶然 | ǒurán | incidentally; occasional |
| 摄像 | shèxiàng | to videotape |
| 录像 | lùxiàng | to videotape; to videorecord |
| 音像 | yīnxiàng | audio and video; audiovisual |
| 影像 | yǐngxiàng | image |
| 图像 | túxiàng | image; picture; graphic |
| 木偶 | mù'ǒu | puppet |
| 像样 | xiàngyàng | presentable; decent |
| 肖像 | xiàoxiàng | portrait (painting, photo etc); (in a general sense) representation of a person |
Questions about 偶像
What does 偶像 mean?
偶像 (ǒuxiàng) means "idol" and is used as a noun.
How do you write 偶像?
偶像 is made of 2 characters: 偶 (11 strokes), 像 (13 strokes). That is 24 strokes in total.
Is 偶像 an HSK word?
Yes. 偶像 is on the HSK 5 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
What is the difference between 偶像 and 榜样?
偶像 is someone you admire or are a fan of, often a celebrity, and the feeling can be emotional. 榜样 (bǎngyàng) is a role model or example to follow, usually for good behavior. Saying a teacher is your 榜样 sounds more natural than calling them your 偶像.
Does 偶 in 偶像 mean the same as 偶 in 偶尔?
No. In 偶像, 偶 refers to a figure or doll-like image, as in 木偶 (mùǒu, puppet). In 偶尔 and 偶然, 偶 means by chance or occasional. The character and its pronunciation ǒu are the same, but the meaning differs.