Angel in Chinese
The Chinese word for angel is 天使 (tiān shǐ). The standard word for an angel: a messenger from heaven.
tiān shǐ
Angel
What 天使 means.
天使 means “heavenly messenger”, which is exactly what the English word angel (from Greek angelos, messenger) means. Chinese speakers also call a kind, gentle person a 天使.
- 天
- heaven, sky
- 使
- messenger, envoy
Simplified and traditional
天使
天使
天使 is written the same way in simplified and traditional Chinese, so every Chinese reader recognises it.
About angel in Chinese
How do you write angel in Chinese?
Angel is 天使 in Chinese, pronounced tiān shǐ. Angel 天 means “heaven, sky”, 使 means “messenger, envoy”.
How do you pronounce 天使?
Say tiān (first tone, high and level), shǐ (third tone, dipping). Mandarin tones change meaning, so it is worth listening to a native speaker once.
Is 天使 different in traditional Chinese?
No. 天使 is written the same way in simplified and traditional Chinese.
Is 天使 a good Chinese tattoo?
Yes, it is a real, everyday Chinese word rather than a machine translation, so Chinese readers will understand it. Keep the characters in their order, top to bottom or left to right, and never mirrored. Choose a readable style such as Kaishu, bring a clean reference to your artist, and show it to a fluent reader before your appointment.