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妖精 (yāo jing) — evil spirit, demon (in folklore and mythology); seductive woman, siren (metaphorical)

Definition

In folklore, a 妖精 is a shape-shifting spirit or demon, often female and seductive. In modern usage it also means a dangerously alluring woman (a 'siren').

noun
evil spiritdemon (in folklore and mythology)seductive womansiren (metaphorical)
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • ，妖精。
    Chuán shuō zhōng, yāo jing cháng cháng chū xiàn zài shēn shān lǐ.
    In legends, demons often appear in deep mountains.
  • 妖精，。
    Tā dǎ bàn dé xiàng yí gè yāo jing, xī yǐn le suǒ yǒu rén de mù guāng.
    She dressed like a siren, attracting everyone's attention.
  • 妖精。
    Zhè bù diàn yǐng jiǎng de shì yí gè yāo jing hé rén lèi xiāng ài de gù shi.
    This movie tells a story about a demon and a human falling in love.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

妖yāodemon
精jīngspirit

妖 and 精 both suggest supernatural beings, together meaning a demon or seductive spirit.

Characters in this word

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
女女nǚ
Sound part声符shēngfú
夭
夭yāo妖yāo
Same sound today

妖 is built from 女 (woman) and 夭; the 女 part relates to the meaning, while 夭 gives the sound.

Open 妖 →

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
米米mǐrice
Sound part声符shēngfú
青
青qīng精jīng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

精 pairs 米 (rice) with 青, which gives the sound; the character originally meant polished rice.

Open 精 →
Appears in
Mythology & Folklore

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