偶像

Étymologie et composants

The Chinese word 偶像 (ǒuxiàng) for "idol" is composed of two characters: 偶 (ǒu), meaning "image" or "figure," and 像 (xiàng), meaning "resemblance" or "likeness." Together, these characters convey the idea of a physical representation of a person or thing that is revered or worshipped.The earliest recorded use of the word 偶像 in Chinese literature dates back to the 3rd century BCE, when it was used in the Daoist text "Zhuangzi" to refer to a statue of a deity. Over time, the word came to be used more broadly to refer to any object of worship, including statues, paintings, and even living people who were considered to be divine or semi-divine.In modern Chinese, the word 偶像 is still used to refer to religious idols, but it has also taken on a more general meaning of "idol" or "celebrity." This is due in part to the influence of Western culture, which has popularized the concept of celebrity worship. As a result, the word 偶像 is now often used to refer to famous actors, singers, athletes, and other public figures who are admired and followed by large numbers of people.