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邪魔 (xié mó) — evil spirit; demon

Definition

noun
evil spiritdemon
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 邪魔。
    Zhè ge chuán shuō zhōng yǒu yì zhī xié mó.
    There is an evil spirit in this legend.
  • 邪魔。
    Tā zhàn shèng le xīn zhōng de xié mó.
    He overcame the demon in his heart.
  • 邪魔。
    Fǎ shī yòng fú zhòu qū zǒu le xié mó.
    The exorcist used a talisman to drive away the evil spirit.

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.

邪xiéevil
魔módemon

邪 (evil) and 魔 (demon) combine to mean an evil demon.

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
邑邑yìtown; city
Sound part声符shēngfú
牙
牙yá邪xié
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

邪 puts 牙 beside 邑 (town; city): 牙 gives the sound, and 邑 shows it was first used in a place name. It was later used for strange or evil meanings.

Open 邪 →

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
鬼鬼guǐdemon
Sound part声符shēngfú
麻
麻má魔mó
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

魔 pairs 鬼, meaning demon, with 麻, which gives the sound.

Open 魔 →
Appears in
Mythology & Folklore

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