'Fèng ruò shén míng' literally means 'to offer (or treat) as if a deity' — combining 奉 (to revere, serve), 若 (as if, like), 神 (deity, god), and 明 (bright, luminous; here part of the compound 神明 meaning 'deities' or 'divine beings'). The phrase conveys extreme, almost unquestioning reverence — not just respect, but awe bordering on worship. It’s often used critically to describe blind admiration for people, ideas, or institutions, especially when such devotion lacks rational basis.

This idiom is common in formal writing, journalism, and literary criticism, particularly when analyzing social phenomena like celebrity culture, ideological dogma, or uncritical adherence to authority. Though classical in origin, it remains vivid and expressive in modern Chinese, carrying a subtle tone of caution or mild disapproval about excessive veneration.