Definition
小鬼 literally means 'little ghost', but the word carries two very different weights. In folklore it refers to a minor demon or messenger of the underworld. In everyday life it's an affectionate, slightly teasing term for a clever or mischievous child — like calling a kid 'little rascal' or 'little devil' in English. The emotional tone (negative vs. affectionate) depends entirely on context.
noun
a little demon or ghost in folklore(affectionate) a cute or mischievous childlittle rascal
Examples
- ，。Nǎinai jiào wǒ xiǎo xiǎo guǐ, yīnwèi wǒ zǒngshì tiáopí.Grandma calls me little devil because I'm always mischievous.
- ，。Zài shénhuà gùshì lǐ, xiǎo guǐ shì dìfǔ de shǐzhě.In mythological stories, little demons are messengers of the underworld.
- ，。Chángzhēng shíqī, xǔduō xiǎo guǐ jiārùle Hóngjūn.During the Long March, many 'little devils' joined the Red Army.
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