天使

• Pinyin: tiān shǐ
• Hanzi breakdown: 天 = 一 + 大 — heaven; 使 = 亻(person) + 吏 — envoy, messenger

Meaning

Angel. A divine messenger or benevolent spiritual being.

Used both in religious contexts referring to heavenly beings and metaphorically to describe kind-hearted people, especially those who help others selflessly. Common in phrases like 白衣天使 (nurses/doctors) and 天使投资人 (angel investor).

Examples

1. 那位护士像天使一样照顾每一位病人，大家都叫她白衣天使。 That nurse cares for every patient like an angel — everyone calls her an angel in white.
2. 创业初期多亏有天使投资人的支持，公司才能撑过最困难的时期。 In the early days of the startup, it was angel investors' support that helped the company survive the hardest period.
3. 她的孩子乖巧可爱，简直是个小天使。 Her child is so well-behaved and adorable — a real little angel.

Usage Guide

Context: religion, metaphor, praise

Tone: affectionate

Do Say

• 你真是我的天使。(You're my angel.)
• 医生护士是白衣天使。(Doctors and nurses are angels in white.)

Don't Say

• 用'天使'形容行为恶劣的人 (Don't call someone with bad behavior a 天使 — it implies kindness and purity)

Origin & History

天 means heaven, 使 means messenger — a messenger from heaven.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal