‘Shèng shuǐ’ literally combines ‘shèng’ (sacred, holy, revered) and ‘shuǐ’ (water), meaning ‘holy water’ — water blessed or consecrated for religious rituals. It is used primarily in Buddhist, Taoist, and Christian contexts in China, though its usage varies by tradition: in Buddhism it often refers to water ritually purified by monks and used for blessings or cleansing; in Christianity it denotes water blessed by a priest for sacraments like baptism or exorcism.

The term carries strong spiritual connotations and is rarely used in secular or scientific settings. Unlike ordinary water (shuǐ), 圣水 implies divine authority, ritual preparation, and symbolic purification. It appears in temple ceremonies, pilgrimage sites (e.g., sacred springs at Mount Emei), and religious texts — but not in daily hygiene or cooking contexts. Its tone and register are formal and reverent, reflecting respect for sacred practice rather than literal physical properties.