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咒语 (zhòu yǔ) — incantation; magic spell

Definition

noun
incantationmagic spell
Measure word · 句

Examples

  • 咒语。
    Wū shī niàn le yí duàn zhòu yǔ.
    The wizard chanted an incantation.
  • 咒语。
    Zhè ge zhòu yǔ kě yǐ bǎo hù nǐ.
    This spell can protect you.
  • 咒语。
    Tā xué huì le xīn de zhòu yǔ.
    He learned a new incantation.

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.

咒zhòucurse
语yǔwords

A 咒, or curse, expressed as 语, or words, forms an incantation.

Characters in this word

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 咒 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 語; 语 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
言言yán
Sound part声符shēngfú
吾
吾wú語yǔ
Same sound today

The form 語 pairs 言 (speech) with 吾, which gives the sound; this note is about 語, not 语.

Open 语 →
Appears in
Mythology & Folklore

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