念咒 (niàn zhòu) — to chant incantations, to recite a spell

Definition

A verb-object phrase for chanting a magical spell or incantation, typically in religious, Daoist, or folk-magic contexts. Often used in fantasy and period fiction.

verb
to chant incantationsto recite a spell

Examples

  • 念咒。
    Tā měi tiān zǎo shàng dōu yào niàn zhòu.
    He has to chant incantations every morning.
  • ，。
    Tā niàn le yí gè zhòu, mén jiù kāi le.
    He recited a spell, and the door opened.
  • 念咒。
    Lǎo rén zài shān shàng niàn zhòu.
    The old person chanted incantations on the mountain.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

念niànchant
咒zhòuincantation

念 is the chanting act, and 咒 is the spell chanted.

Characters in this word

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

念 combines 今, an upside-down mouth, with 心, the heart, to listen to one's heart.

Open 念 →

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 咒 →

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