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九尾狐 (jiǔ wěi hú) — nine-tailed fox (mythological creature); (figurative) a crafty and villainous person

Definition

A nine-tailed fox from Chinese myth, often portrayed as a shape-shifting spirit that seduces or bewitches people. Used figuratively to call someone a scheming, dangerous seductress.

noun
nine-tailed fox (mythological creature)(figurative) a crafty and villainous person
Measure word · 只

Examples

  • 《》九尾狐。
    《Shān hǎi jīng》 lǐ jì zǎi le yì zhǒng jiào zuò jiǔ wěi hú de shén shòu.
    The Classic of Mountains and Seas records a mythical beast called the nine-tailed fox.
  • 九尾狐，。
    Tā jiù xiàng yì zhī jiǔ wěi hú, yòng měi mào mí huò le hěn duō rén.
    She is like a nine-tailed fox, using her beauty to bewitch many people.
  • ，九尾狐。
    Zài xiǎo shuō lǐ, nà ge fǎn pài bèi xíng róng chéng jiǔ wěi hú.
    In the novel, that villain is described as a crafty nine-tailed fox.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

九尾nine tails
九jiǔnine尾wěitail
偏正Modifier + head
狐húfox

九 (nine) and 尾 (tail) form nine tails, describing the fox 狐.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The shape comes from a stylized hand bent at the wrist, with the lower-right hook showing the bend. Later, it was taken to show a tightened fist bumping up to ten, giving the number nine.

Open 九 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

The form 尾 combines 尸 (person) and 毛 (hair; feather).

Open 尾 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
犭Written in full as犬quǎndog
Sound part声符shēngfú
瓜
瓜guā狐hú
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

狐 uses 犭, the dog sign, to mark it as an animal, and 瓜 to give the sound.

Open 狐 →
Appears in
Animals & MammalsMythology & Folklore

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