嫦娥

• Pinyin: cháng é
• Hanzi breakdown: 嫦 = 女 (woman) + 常 (constant, phonetic); 娥 = 女 (woman) + 我 (phonetic)

Meaning

Chang'e; the Chinese goddess of the moon in mythology. Also the name of China's lunar exploration program.

In Chinese mythology, Chang'e is the goddess who lives on the moon with the Jade Rabbit. The story is central to the Mid-Autumn Festival. Modern usage often refers to China's lunar probe missions.

Examples

1. 嫦娥奔月的故事是中秋节最著名的传说。 The story of Chang'e flying to the moon is the most famous legend of the Mid-Autumn Festival.
2. 嫦娥五号成功带回了月球土壤样本。 Chang'e-5 successfully brought back lunar soil samples.
3. 小时候奶奶常给我讲嫦娥和玉兔的故事。 When I was little, Grandma often told me stories about Chang'e and the Jade Rabbit.

Usage Guide

Context: mythology, culture, science, festivals

Tone: poetic

Do Say

• 嫦娥探月工程是中国航天史上的重要里程碑。(The Chang'e lunar exploration program is an important milestone in Chinese space history.)
• 中秋节的时候，孩子们都喜欢听嫦娥的故事。(During the Mid-Autumn Festival, children love to hear stories about Chang'e.)

Don't Say

• 她长得像嫦娥一样 (While grammatically correct, comparing a modern woman to Chang'e can sound overly literary or even sarcastic in casual conversation)

Origin & History

From ancient Chinese mythology. 嫦 is a character used only in this name, while 娥 means 'beautiful woman.'

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal