幻化 (huàn huā) — to transform magically or mysteriously; (literary) to die (euphemism)

Definition

Literary verb meaning 'to transform magically' — shape-shifting in myths, legends, or poetic imagery. Also used as a soft euphemism for dying or fading away.

verb
to transform magically or mysteriously(literary) to die (euphemism)

Examples

  • ，幻化。
    Chuán shuō zhōng, hú li kě yǐ huàn huā chéng rén xíng.
    In legends, foxes can transform into human form.
  • 幻化，。
    Tā de shēn yǐng zài xī yáng zhōng jiàn jiàn huàn huā, zuì hòu xiāo shī le.
    His figure gradually transformed in the sunset, then disappeared.
  • 幻化，。
    Xiān rén huàn huā wèi yí zhèn qīng fēng, piāo rán ér qù.
    The immortal transformed into a gust of clear wind and drifted away.

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.

幻huànmagical
化huàtransform

幻化 joins 幻 'magical' and 化 'transform' to mean change in a mysterious way.

Characters in this word

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 幻 →

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

化 shows two person figures, one upright and one upside down, to give the idea of reversal or change.

Open 化 →

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